Sen. Manny Pacquiao?s decision not to fight at the coming Olympics dealt a huge blow to AIBA?s campaign to introduce professionals in Rio, seriously eroding the credibility of the international federation in foisting itself as the global governing body for the sport in both the amateur and professional levels.
Pacquiao would?ve been the ace in AIBA president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu?s master plan to take control of all of boxing. Since the concept of AIBA opening its doors to pros was hatched six years ago, the process of expansion has been slow. AIBA launched two pro platforms, the team-oriented WSB (World Series of Boxing) and the APB (AIBA Pro Boxing), to encroach on the territory that has long been the domain of money-making enclaves like the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO. But neither the APB nor WSB could steal the thunder from the established pro organizations. Dr. Wu needed an icon to lead the AIBA charge and Pacquiao would?ve been the perfect Richard the Lionheart to lead the crusade.
AIBA?s gripe was it developed amateurs to become millionaire pros but was left out of the spoils. Dr. Wu figured AIBA?s investment deserved the benefit of dividends. A case in point is WBA, IBF and interim WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan. Golovkin, 34, was an Olympic Solidarity scholar who won the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games, 2003 AIBA World Championships and 2004 Asian Championships (beating Fil-Am Chris Camat in the middleweight finals in Puerto Princesa) and settled for the silver at the 2004 Olympics. Now, Golovkin is earning big bucks as a pro and AIBA is upset that after the Kazakh made a name for himself as an amateur fighting in AIBA tournaments, AIBA isn?t sharing in his fame or fortune.
So AIBA conceptualized its own version of a world championship. To bridge the gap between AIBA and the likes of the WBC and WBA, Dr. Wu did away with headgear and singlets and brought AIBA scoring at almost a parallel level with the pros, using the 10-point must system. But with the APB and WSB hardly making inroads in the lucrative pro market, Dr. Wu wanted to make the Olympics the launch pad for the bold move towards an open boxing system.
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At first, AIBA said it would only accredit fighters with 15 or less pro bouts for the Olympics. But after realizing the exception wouldn?t make an impact, AIBA decided to welcome even veterans like Pacquiao with over 60 fights under his belt. If Pacquiao decided to fight in Rio, he wouldn?t have had to go through qualifiers. AIBA has five wildcard tickets to allocate in men?s boxing and one was conveniently in the lightwelterweight class which would?ve been Pacquiao?s division. Pacquiao would?ve been given a free ride to the event. Dean’s Corner ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 .
With Pacquiao?s decision, AIBA is left with no high-profile pro fighter to display in Rio. Dr. Wu recently said Wladimir Klitschko has expressed interest to go back to the Olympics at the age of 40. The hitch is AIBA has no wildcard ticket for the superheavyweight division so for Klitschko to compete in Rio, he?ll have to go through qualifiers.
As for Pacquiao?s withdrawal, he said it was to prioritize his legislative obligations, now that he?s a Senator. The scuttlebutt is before deciding, Pacquiao asked his advisers to get the public pulse, meaning his mind was open to fighting in Rio. Pacquiao, in fact, had discussed the possibility with Freddie Roach who confirmed he would work his corner in Rio with no money involved. Pacquiao was willing to stake his name, reputation and future in boxing (an Olympic stint would be a breach in his Top Rank contract and likely end hopes for a comeback) for the chance to bring the elusive Olympic gold to the Philippines.
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A source said the surveys came up with nothing conclusive either way. The pulse was 50-50. So it appears that Pacquiao chose the path of least resistance, nothing wrong with that. He decided to end his Olympic dream for the country in favor of another patriotic mission ? to serve in the Senate full-time, without boxing distractions, at least for the time being. The decision not to fight in Rio, however, doesn?t mean Pacquiao won?t ever stage a ring comeback, perhaps for one more outing ? a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Comments from netizens on Twitter indicated a positive reaction to Pacquiao?s decision. ?Glad to hear about Manny?s decision not to join the Olympics,? said @B3RNARD1980. ?Thankful he listened to us.? ?He has achieved a lot already, time to retire,? said @menemiserick. ?He has proved his worth and given us so much honor,? said @atty_sherwindep. ?Besides, he needs to focus on his Senate work as promised.?
Regarding the Olympics, there?s no backtracking for Pacquiao. Fighting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is not an option because he would be over the age limit of 40 by then. So now, the Philippines has to rely on somebody else, another Savior, to deliver the elusive gold. As for AIBA, it?s back to the drawing boards in the difficult task of gaining credibility as the global power in all of boxing.
