If he must go through the regular route, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao cannot fulfill his dream of seeing action in the 2024 Paris Olympics in Paris.
But if there’s one dose that could help resuscitate the dwindling popularity of boxing in the Olympics, it could be in the form of an eight-division professional world champion, the Filipino’s people champ they call Pacman.
“It’s his accolades (in professional boxing),” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino when asked what would make the International Olympics Committee (IOC) decide to allow boxing’s most popular and accomplished figure in the last two decades direct route to the Olympics, without him going through the qualifying phases.
“Manny could be a shot in the arm for boxing. It’s going to be a blockbuster because Manny will fight in at least two eliminations, then quarters and semis and hopefully finals,” said Tolentino on Monday during a dinner for several Filipino medalists in the recently concluded Hangzhou Asian Games.
The POC chief said they have already written the IOC requesting for Pacquiao to be considered for an outright slot in the Olympics via the “universality rule.”
“It has to go through a lot of processes until it reaches the IOC board. But we are hoping that they will consider it. Hopefully by April, or earlier than that, we will have their answer (IOC).”
The IOC has allotted nine slots for the universality rule which means an athlete can have a direct route to the quadrennial games for reasons, varying from humanitarian to special concerns.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) Secretary General Marcus Manalo explained that at 44 years old and going 45, Pacquiao is no longer eligible to take part in boxing’s Olympic qualifying for boxing which is limited only to participants aged 19-40 years old.
If he is considered for the universality rule, Pacquiao’s presence will not just “be good for Olympics boxing in general,” but will also boost the confidence of the entire Filipino boxing team, and perhaps the whole Philippine delegation to Paris.
“Baka pwedeng i-challenge ang age limit,” he said. “Kasi itong 44-year-old na ito eh much more conditioned sa mga 30-year-old na nagcocompete.”
“If it gets approved, that would be extremely beneficial for us. His presence will be a big boost to the team, not to mention his medal chances,” he said.
Pacquiao has earlier voiced out his desire to compete in the Olympics—a dream he wants to fulfill before closing a colorful boxing career that made him champions in various weight classes—something only he has accomplished.
Pacquiao who last competed at 66 kilograms as a pro could choose to fight at 63.50 weight divisions in Paris where boxing competitions are being managed by the IOC.
Eumir Marcial, a professional campaigner under Pacquiao’s MP Promotion, is the first Filipino boxer to qualify in Paris, with his silver medal finish in Hangzhou.