Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is considering qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
President of the Philippine Olympic Committee Abraham Tolentino has announced this. p>
— Senator Pacquiao Camp Says Our Filipino Idol Wants to Fight in Paris, — Tolentino said in a statement.
The legendary Filipino, who won the world title in eight weight divisions, retired from big boxing after losing to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
From time to time, Pacquiao hinted at a possible return, but subsequently stated that he decided to focus on political career in the Philippines, where he is a senator. After losing the 2022 presidential election, he returned to the ring and held several exhibition fights.
Pacquiao is now 44 years old and will — 45 years old.
He will definitely not qualify for the Games through the Asian Games, where the age limit is 40, but will have a chance to qualify through one of the two Olympic Qualifiers that will take place at the beginning of 2024. Or through the universality rule.
Such places are designed by the IOC to help athletes from countries that, due to qualifications, would have little or no representation at the Games.
Previously only amateur boxers could participate in the boxing tournament at the Olympics, but in 2016 the rules were changed.
Thus, in 2020, professional boxer from Uzbekistan Bakhodir Jalolov won heavyweight gold at the Tokyo Olympics. But there were also unfortunate defeats, like at the Rio 2016 Games, when the ex-IBF featherweight champion Thai Amnat Ruenroeng suffered a humiliating defeat from an amateur.
