Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
Photo from Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions

2024 Summer Olympics

Pacquiao interested in fighting at Paris Olympics


Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is aiming to extend his legendary boxing career by pursuing an Olympic medal in Paris next year.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino revealed on Wednesday that Pacquiao’s team had inquired about the process for the former eight-division world champion to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

Tolentino stated that the POC has commenced discussions with the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which oversees Olympic boxing while the International Boxing Association is suspended.

“Senator Pacquiao’s camp reached out saying our Filipino boxing idol wants to compete in Paris,” Tolentino stated. “However, the Senator can’t qualify through the Asian Games in Hangzhou next month due to the age limit of 40 for athletes in all sports.”

The Asian Games, an Olympic qualifier, sets an age limit of 40 for athletes in all sports. According to Tolentino, since Pacquiao is 44 years old, he could attempt to qualify for Paris through two Olympic qualifying tournaments scheduled for the first and second quarters of 2024.

The third option, as mentioned by Tolentino, would be for Pacquiao to secure a berth through the Universality rule, which the IOC can grant. However, there are only nine Universality places available at the Paris Games—five for women and four for men.

A close aide of Pacquiao confirmed that the former senator is willing to compete in the Olympics and that they have already reached out to Tolentino.

Tolentino also mentioned that ABAP, through its chairman Ricky Vargas, is ready to welcome Pacquiao to the national team and provide assistance with his qualification.

#ReadMore  Bambol Tolentino completes POC elections ticket, taps TAP chief Carrasco as chairman

Pacquiao’s current weight is 66 kgs, and he will need to choose between the 63.50 kgs and 71 kgs weight categories included in the Paris boxing program.

Professional boxers have been allowed to participate in the Olympics, and in Tokyo, 43 out of 186 competitors were professionals. Among them was middleweight bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, who defeated fellow professional Armenia’s Arman Darchinyan in the quarterfinals.

Prior to Tokyo, Marcial achieved his first professional victory with a unanimous decision over American Andrew Whitfield on December 16, 2020, in Los Angeles.

Marcial has opted to postpone his fifth professional fight in September and will focus on returning to the Olympics through Hangzhou, where he will compete as a light heavyweight.

Written By


You May Also Like

19th Asian Games

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is not deviating from his previous forecast that Filipino athletes in the 19th Asian Games will...

19th Asian Games

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has pledged to persist in advocating for the inclusion of Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Mo...

Basketball

The North selection finally prevailed over their South counterparts, winning 99-91 on late Saturday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season All-Star...

19th Asian Games

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has informed the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC) about potential roster changes in certain national associations, including the...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Filipinos have long been known for being gracious hosts, and that hasn’t changed at all during the FIBA World Cup 2023. Italy, a quarterfinalist...

19th Asian Games

The Philippines have momentum on their side, and more importantly, rekindled trust and confidence in men’s basketball as they prepare for the Hangzhou 19th...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Italy coach Gianmarco Pozzecco had one of the best 24 hours of his life in Manila. Pozzecco, who won the FIBA Europe Cup in...

2023 FIBA World Cup

At long last, Italy’s head coach, Gianmarco Pozzecco, had the opportunity to meet one of his heroes. A day prior to the commencement of...

Advertisement