Manny Pacquiao has been in the boxing ring since the mid-1990s, dueling with stars like Floyd Mayweather and Óscar de la Hoya. A dream was still open – and remains so.
The Olympics, that was Manny Pacquiao’s big goal. At the age of 45, the boxer from the Philippines wanted to fulfill this dream again. He would have fought for gold in the summer, when the Games were held in Paris, if the International Olympic Committee had allowed it. But the boxing star’s application was rejected and his dream was shattered. Pacquiao reacted “sad and disappointed”.
The boxing oldie initially hung up his gloves in 2021 and unsuccessfully applied for the presidency of his home country. He said he respects the decision of the IOC, which has set an age limit of 40 for Olympic boxers.
“Safe podium” for the Philippines
Pacquiao is considered one of the greats of his sport. He won world titles in eight different weight classes in a colorful career that spanned more than a quarter century. However, he was never in the ring at the Olympics, which is why the Philippines wanted to obtain an exemption for him.
With the rejection, the IOC deprives the country of “a sure podium, if not the first gold medal,” said Abraham Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee. Pacquiao promised that he would bring his country “pride and glory in the ring” again in the near future. There will be an exhibition fight against kickboxer Buakaw Banchamek in Bangkok on April 20th.