The Philippines has made a “special request” to the International Olympic Committee so that boxer Manny Pacquiao can participate in next year’s Paris Olympics even though the former world champion is over the age limit, an official said Tuesday. Filipino.
Pacquiao, 44, retired from professional boxing in 2021 in an unsuccessful bid to become president of the Philippines.
The age limit for Olympic boxers is 40 years old. Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino told AFP he had sent a letter to the IOC two weeks ago to request a “universality place” for Pacquiao.
Universality places are awarded to athletes from countries struggling to secure places at the Olympics through normal qualification routes. The IOC said there were nine universality places for boxing in Paris, five for women and four for men.
The names of the boxers who will benefit from one of these places will be announced on June 7, 2024. “He is in good physical shape, better than other athletes,” assured Tolentino, describing Pacquiao as a “boxing icon” who could contribute to the image of this sport.
Tolentino explained that the “special request” for Pacquiao would not affect the chances of other Filipino boxers to qualify for Paris-2024.
Fighting in Paris would be a chance to realize his life’s dream of winning an Olympic gold medal, Pacquiao told AFP on Tuesday. He, who won numerous world titles in six different weight categories, never participated in the Games.
He insisted he was “not too old” to face younger boxers, stating that he felt like he was “30 or 28.”
“It’s Manny Pacquiao’s secret,” he said.
The Filipino indicated that he planned to compete in exhibition fights in Japan and Thailand in the coming months.