JAKARTA Former Filipino boxer eight-division Manny Pacquiao wants a comeback from retirement to make his Olympic dream come true.
Pacquiao's desire to appear in the 2024 Paris Olympics was revealed by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino. He said Pacquiao's camp had been looking into qualifying for Paris.
"Petrol Senator Pacquiao contacted and said that our Filipino ring idol wants to fight in Paris," Tolentino told Rappler, quoted by Boxing Scene.
Tolentino indicated that this conversation had also been carried out with the Association of Philippine Boxing Alliances (ABAP) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the agency that oversees Olympic boxing.
However, the fighter nicknamed the 44-year-old PacMan could not meet the age limit at this year's Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in September.
Asia's biggest event is part of the Olympic qualifiers. In that event, the age limit is 40 years for all sports.
However, Tolentino said that it would welcome Pacquiao's intentions in the national team and would assist in the qualification process.
"But Senators can no longer compete for qualification at the Asian Games in Hangzhou next month," Tolentino said.
Pacquiao, who is four years older than the limit, could qualify for Paris through two Olympic qualifying tournaments to be held in the first and second quarters of 2024.
Tolentino indicated that Pacquiao could also secure a place under Universality regulations, which would be granted by the IOC. There are only nine places under that rule for Paris later, namely five for women and four for men.
Pacquiao decided to retire in 2021 after losing to Yordenis Ugas in the WBA welterweight belt race. Since then, Pacquiao has been active in politics before returning to the exhibition match.
Pacquiao is currently scheduled to take part in an exhibition match against Buakaw Banchamek, a kickboxing champion many times, in early 2024.
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