Boxing titan Manny Pacquiao's bid to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics has been blocked by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fox News reported on Sunday.
The 45-year-old boxing champion asked for an exemption from the standard age limit of 40 for Olympic boxers, but the IOC flatly rejected his request, the paper said. This refusal was communicated through a letter from the IOC, putting an end to the Filipino legend's Olympic dreams. according to To the outlet. The newspaper said the Philippines' efforts to secure a “universal” slot for Pacquiao – a special slot usually given to countries with limited representation – also failed.
“The place of universality is not assigned to anyone” [teams] “The past two Olympics have averaged more than eight athletes in each individual sport/discipline,” the IOC said in a statement, according to FOX News. “This is the case with the Philippine Olympic Committee.”
Manny Pacquiao is too old to compete at the Paris Olympics… IOC refuses to change age limit to allow 45-year-old legend to return to the ring https://t.co/nQF8AUNUD2 pic.twitter.com/WypUnHAftI
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) February 19, 2024
Pacquiao, who hung up his gloves in 2021, continues to intrigue fans with his recent fights. picture Showing off his sustained speed and skill in the ring. The newspaper added that Pacquiao's achievements in the sport remain unparalleled, even though he doesn't have the agility he had at the age of 16. His career included the historic feat of moving through eight different weight classes, winning titles from flyweight to junior middleweight, the newspaper reported. The rivalry between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., which culminated in a 2015 bout that grossed more than $600 million, has become a highlight of modern boxing, the paper said.(Related: Conor McGregor says he plans to box Manny Pacquiao in the Middle East)
Although his last professional fight (a loss to Yordenis Ugas) took place in August 2021, Pacquiao's influence extends beyond the ring. According to Fox News, the athlete turned to a political career in the Philippines, first serving as a member of the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2016 and then as a senator from 2016 to 2022.
Pacquiao's professional record is 62 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws (including 39 KOs), and his amateur record is 60 wins, 4 losses.
