Exploring Manny Pacquiao Olympic Journey: Unpacking the Fallout From His Paris Showdown

Three years into retirement, the name of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao still resonates. The only boxer with the eight-division world champion title has more firsts in his bag than others in history. Having held the World Championships across four decades, he pitched in to make a mark at 40 years as well. Like thoughts, like action. He became the oldest welterweight world champion in history at the age when most athletes vacay around.

Never having competed at the Olympics, the 45-year-old wished to make the final mark at the Paris Olympics 2024. The International Olympic Committee didn’t turn his dream into reality, as the age limit of participants is 40. It has been some hours since the Olympic officials in the Philippines received an official statement regarding this. But the former senator of the Philippines isn’t seeing his Olympic dreams crushed for the first time though.

The unachieved goals of Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao boasts of a diverse career, which includes some years as the head coach and a player for the Philippine Basketball Association team. Moreover, he also explored his political side, which culminated in his candidacy for the President of the Philippines in 2021. Having starred in movies and reality shows as well, the 45-year-old philanthropist has one dream that he still doesn’t want to give up on. He has never competed in the Olympics. Though this sounds unusual for a boxer of such measure, every syllable of the statement is true. As the Philippine delegation’s flag bearer, he made his debut at the 2008 Summer Olympics, but as a non-competitor.

Further, in the 2016 Summer Olympics, he had a fair chance of bagging titles in Brazil, but he mindfully pulled out. Now, 5 years into his 40s, the IOC has decided to stick to their pre-decided age limit(40). Since the Philippines had been too victorious to benefit from the ‘universality’ scheme, the reigning boxer drew a line to his storied career.

Here’s a look at some of his victories

Manny’s achievements have manifolded over the years until he called his career off in 2021. Out of 72 professional matches, he won 62 of them, failing to grab 10. As the first boxer to win lineal championships in five weight divisions, the 45-year-old had bagged $1.2 billion from his 25 pay-per-view feats, according to a 2015 record.

READ MORE: “Like a Young Pacquiao”: Teddy Atlas Reacts to Ilia Topuria’s Knockout Win Over Volkanovski

Moreover, he’s also the proud owner of 39 wins by knockout, with the best boxer’s list top position in 2020. Having so many wins, firsts, accolades, and love under his belt, the Olympic dreams of Pacquiao will forever be an unattained ambition. For one decision to sit out on the 2016 Olympics, his illustrious career lacks the most coveted feather.

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