FORMER Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson smiled in disbelief when informed of ring icon Manny Pacquiao’s Olympic aspirations.
“Nagbibiro lang siguro ‘yun (Pacquiao),” Singson, a longtime confidant of the former eight-division world champion, said with a twinkle in his eye in a recent interview.
Reports said Pacquiao had broached his ambition to compete in the Paris Olympic Games to Philippine Olympic Committee president and Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who said that he would look into it.
The Gen. Santos native reiterated his desire to don the national colors in the Paris Olympics during the launch of the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association over the weekend.
But perhaps out of concern for the health and safety of the former senator, Singson said it would be wise if Pacquiao would no longer pursue his Olympic goal.
“At the age of 40, 44 na siya, nagbabago na ang reflexes. Nu’ng bata pa siya, sinabi ko na sa kanya at that age ay huminto na siya kasi magbabago na ang reflexes mo,” added the known sportsman and patron, presently the Mayor of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. “Hindi na kailangang (lumaban), masisira ‘yung record niya.”
The country’s flag-bearer during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games when he was still in his prime, Pacquiao could no longer fight in the Hangzhou Asian Games, an Olympic qualifying event, because he is over the 40-year-old age limit.
He last fought seriously on Aug. 20, 2021, losing his World Boxing Association super welterweight crown at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to crafty Cuban counterpuncher Yordenis Ugas, who pulled off a stunning upset, winning the match by unanimous decision.
Pacquiao ended his illustrious professional boxing career with a record of 62 wins, 39 of them by knockout, against eight losses and three draws.
The only recourse left for him to fulfill his Olympic ambitions is to compete in the last two world Olympic qualifying tournaments set next year before the Summer Games open in the French capital.
The first will be from Feb. 29 to March 12, 2023 in Busto Arsizio while the last will be on May 23 to June 5 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Aside from adjusting to the amateur style of play, the quandary facing Pacquiao is in what weight division he would fight, considering that fighting in the welterweight (71kg) division may no longer be feasible given his present age.
