Former world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao intends to return to the sport two years after finishing his professional career. A Filipino athlete wants to compete at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but his plans have met with disapproval from his former colleagues.
The president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Abraham Tolentino, announced that Pacquiao has expressed a desire to return to the ring. He said that the boxer “wants to fight in Paris”, but there is an obstacle to this: he will not be able to qualify for the Asian Games due to the age limit for athletes applying for participation in the Olympics. Only persons under 40 years of age are allowed to compete.
Tolentino noted that he is already in talks with the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines and the International Olympic Committee. The first is ready to accept Pacquiao into the national team and assist him in qualifying.
Manny will turn 45 in December 2023. He can try to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris through two tournaments, which will take place in 2024, or receive a special invitation from the IOC.
Dreamer’s Fantasies
However, prominent sports figures do not consider this scenario likely. Russian boxer Konstantin Tszyu commented on the situation with Pacquiao’s expected return.
According to him, the age limit at the Olympics works for all athletes without exception. Tszyu called his colleague “one of the greatest boxers in history,” but noted that he does not consider it right to try to achieve concessions for the Filipino. “When they announce that he will definitely perform, then we’ll talk. For now, these are the fantasies of a dreamer, so to speak.”“Soviet Sport quotes him.”
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Russian boxer Denis Lebedev has a different opinion. He noted that Pacquiao, at 44 years old, is “still quite frisky,” so he did not see anything reprehensible in the Filipino’s plans to compete at the Olympic Games. “I think it was a good decision on his part.”Lebedev emphasized.
Manny Pacquiao is the only boxer to become a world champion in eight weight divisions. He announced his retirement from his professional career two years ago. The Filipino had his last fight on August 22, 2021 — his opponent in the fight for the world title according to the World Boxing Association was Cuban Yordenis Ugas, who won this meeting.
After leaving, Pacquiao began his political career. He announced his plans to run for president of the Philippines.