Manny Pacquiao Targets The WBC 147 Belt
Manny Pacquiao is hoping to fight for the WBC Welterweight Title this year.
The news comes after Terence Crawford became a ‘Champion in Recess’ after moving up to 154. Bud will box Israil Madrimov for the WBA Junior Middleweight Title. That means the current WBC Interim Welterweight Champion, Mario Barrios, will fight for the full title. Pacman hopes to be the leading name for that fight.
Manny showed that he could perform at the tail-end of his career, beating Keith Thurman to secure the WBA Welterweight Title at 40. While that may have been the case, Pacman’s last pro fight against Yordenis Ugas ended in a loss. Pacman lost a unanimous decision. Since Barrios beat Ugas last year, that would leave him as a big favorite. Now, it appears he wants to make a comeback.
Pacquiao’s Comeback
“Manny Pacquiao is still chasing history. He is looking at one more big fight in 2024. Manny made history at 40 years old when he beat Keith Thurman to win the WBA 147-pound world title. He became the oldest fighter ever to do it. He would love a shot at the welterweight title before calling it a career,” Sean Gibbons (Chairman Of Manny Pacquiao Promotions) said
The news comes after the boxer was denied his dream of fighting at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. According to the rules, any boxer had to be between 19 and 40 to compete. But since Pacquiao was over that age limit, he needed a ‘universality blueprint.’ The Philippine Olympic Committee had to ask the IOC to allow Pacman to fight. While there were attempts to make it happen, it was ruled out.
“Too bad our beloved boxing icon is disqualified because of his age and that everyone needs to go through qualifiers, in all sports, to be able to participate in Paris,” Bambol Tolentino (Philippine Olympic Committee President) stated
Manny’s Future
Manny was also linked with a fight against Muay Thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek. The fight was meant to be in April, but it has now been delayed. Buakaw faced Minoru Kimura on March 23 during the Rizin Landmark 9 event. The news raised eyebrows as it was close to April. Kimura also failed a test last June following his win over Daryl Lokoku at RIZN 43. That was then turned into a no-contest. Although Manny did not fight Banchamek, the fight appears to be delayed rather than canceled.
“My understanding is that the fight has gotten postponed. It hasn’t gotten canceled. As far as contractual-wise, the fight is still happening. We just don’t know when. So, my understanding is that the fight is not off; it has been postponed,” Buakaw said
That has set the narrative for Pacman to make a comeback. But there is a risk of Pacquiao getting seriously hurt. The boxer will be 46 by the end of the year. Father time catches up with every boxer. Evander Holyfield showed that when he was stopped in his comeback fight against Victor Belfort in 2021. That has left Pacman with plenty to consider.
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