MANILA, Philippines – Eight months after winning the World Boxing Council lightweight crown, Manny Pacquiao has formally informed the governing body that he is relinquishing the title he took away from David Diaz.
Even before he climbed the ring against Oscar dela Hoya last December, Pacquiao said he will no longer defend the lightweight (135 lbs) crown. But it was only this week that he formally gave up the crown.
The Filipino pound-for-pound champion told the WBC that he has no plans of going back to 135 lbs after the recent fight against Dela Hoya at 147 pounds and a May 2 bout with Ricky Hatton at 140 lbs.
?Hirap na ako sa 135 (I can barely make 135),? he said, adding that he plans to retire after two or three more fights.
In his letter to WBC president Jose Sulaiman, Pacquiao said, ?I have had discussion with my team as to the direction of my career since my fight at 147 lbs with Oscar dela Hoya, on December 6, 2008.
?In the advancement of my professional boxing career, I intend at this time to campaign in the super lightweight division with a fight against Ricky Hatton on May 2, 2009.?
Pacquiao said he took pride and honor representing the WBC as its lightweight champion, and winning the title against Diaz opened the door to the huge fight against Dela Hoya and his emergence as the new pound-for-pound champion.
There was no title at stake when Pacquiao faced and defeated Dela Hoya last December. But against Hatton, the 30-year-old superstar will be going for the International Boxing Organization light-welterweight crown.
If Pacquiao wins, it will be his fifth championship in five different weight classes ? flyweight, super-bantamweight, super-featherweight and lightweight. As it is, he is the first Asian to rule four different divisions; and the first Filipino lightweight champ.
Pacquiao is all set to fly to London to promote his fight with Hatton, set May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
According to his lawyer, Franklin Gacal, Pacquiao might leave today or tomorrow via Manila and Hong Kong to London.
Pacquiao went to the UK Embassy in Manila yesterday to work on his visa.
?Things went well,? according to Gacal, adding that they already have their plane tickets on hand, just waiting for their visas.
