Manny Pacquiao’s Olympic Dream Is Far-Fetched, Here’s Why

Manny Pacquiao still wants to walk to the podium and clinch gold, but this time for his country. Despite putting his body on the line for almost three decades and claiming every belt on offer, he has a dream left unfulfilled. The Filipino boxer wants to represent his country at the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, it appears to be a wilder dream rather than a well-thought-out comeback to the square circle. 

‘Pacman’ seized headlines in late August when the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) disclosed he had approached them about the possibility of competing at the 2024 Olympics. Following that, he expressed his excitement about representing the Philippines in the Olympics. While the former eight-division champion hung his gloves after a loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021, he put up an exhibition fight last year. The 45-year-old feels he still has the boxing prowess to realize his childhood dream.

Manny Pacquiao and his lingering desire for the Olympics

Manny Pacquiao has set his heart on adding Olympic gold to his illustrious resume. At 15, he went to Manila to realize his Olympic dream but failed to make the cut. He couldn’t make the Philippine team, citing that he wasn’t “good enough.” But to escape poverty and make ends meet, he made his professional debut at 16.

The Kibawe native had a flourishing professional career, but due to a stipulation prohibiting professionals from the Olympics, he couldn’t realize his dream. However, when the IBA struck down the rule in 2016, he failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Notably, at the Tokyo Olympics, 43 of the 186 competitors were professionals.

Pacquiao doesn’t have to give up his professional tag, and his mere addition would be a huge psychological boost to the national team. His inclusion will lift the spirit of rising compatriot Eumir Marcial, who is the sole qualifying boxer from the Philippines for the Paris Olympics. POC wants to put their most popular boxer on the list to solidify their bid to bag their first gold in boxing. To do that, they have to persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and find a way around some rules.

Bending the rules and regulations and circumventing them

Interestingly, the upper limit for a boxer at the Olympics is 40. Pacquiao, at 45, is years removed from meeting that criteria. The POC has then made a “special request” to the IOC to relax the criteria. But will the IOC cave into the demands for a specific person? That’s hard to imagine.

The rationale is to protect the boxers from severe repercussions, and Pacquiao runs a similar risk. While the fans could argue that Pacquiao is physically fitter than most young boxers, a sole exception can’t be made for him. Even if they make an exception for him, he will have to earn his qualification.

Pacquiao might possess the most incredible skillset and boxing prowess, but he might not be able to match younger boxers. He has to qualify through tournaments in Italy and Thailand next year, and no one is sure how he will fare in those. There is a glimmer of hope in POC’s desperate attempt to seek a “universality place” for Pacquiao.

Universality places are afforded to countries that secure slots in the Olympics through normal qualification channels. While there are nine such places to grab for boxing, there are only four for men. That’s a last resort, and if the POC fails to make the IOC realize the importance of one of the greatest fighters in boxing history, it’s curtains for Pacquiao’s Olympic dream.

Maybe it’s all a distant golden dream

Manny Pacquiao’s star power is the only pull that drives the POC’s special request to the ICC. In addition, he has to put himself through rigorous training camps to reach the young boxers’ level, and he has other priorities to cater to. Pacquiao has a booming political career, too. Maybe an Olympic run might not be the ideal addition to his image as a senator.

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While Pacquiao believes it’s never too late to fulfill his dream of bringing home Olympic gold, some dreams come with an expiration date. He missed his chance in 2016, and now bulging the IOC would be an uphill task. He wants to fight again and has planned to fight in two exhibition matches next year. But to expect him to enter the Paris Olympics would be an impossible task.

What do you make of this remote possibility of Manny Pacquiao fulfilling his Olympic dream? Let us know in the comments below.

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