Manny Pacquiao: I would love to fight for Philippines at Rio Games
Eight-time world champion, who is running for a Senate seat in May, says he has been personally invited to Brazil for the Olympics, but the AIBA is to vote on the matter at a special congress
Boxing great Manny Pacquiao said on Wednesday that it would be an honour to fight for the Philippines at this year’s Rio Olympics, where professional fighters could be allowed to compete for the first time.
The eight-time world champion said he had been “personally invited” to the Rio de Janeiro Games by Wu Ching-kuo, president of the International Boxing Association (Aba) – the governing body for amateur boxing.
If I would be asked to represent boxing, why not? I would do everything for my country
“It would be my honour to represent the country in the Olympics,” Pacquiao said. “If I would be asked to represent boxing, why not? I would do everything for my country.”
The 37-year-old, one of the world’s wealthiest boxers, made the comments while training for what he said would be his last professional fight, an April 9 Las Vegas rematch with American Timothy Bradley.
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Wu said in Switzerland on Monday that Aiba would vote within three months on proposals that would allow all professional fighters to compete in the Olympic Games, including in Rio.
Wu said proposed changes to Aiba statutes, set to be put to a vote at a special congress of Aiba confederations at the end of May, could leave Olympic eligibility in the hands of the national boxing federations.