New York, June 9: Manny Pacquiao’s fighting days aren’t finished yet, as he’s coming out of retirement at 46 for a shot at another title next month.
No matter what happens in the remaining stage, it’s hard to find many better resumes than the one he already assembled in a career that landed him in the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday.
“And now, when I look back,” Pacquiao said, “eight-division world champion, world titles in four different decades, oldest welterweight world champion in history, those are not just opinions. They are facts.”
Pacquiao was the headline name in the class of 2025 that was enshrined during a ceremony at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York.
He won’t be able to celebrate too long, as then it’s back to training for his July 19 bout in Las Vegas against WBC champ Mario Barrios.
Pacquiao didn’t mention that during his speech at the end of a lengthy induction ceremony. Instead he focused on the record-setting accomplishment of winning titles in eight weight classes, a fighter who made his pro debut in the 106-pound class and rose all the way to win a title at the 154-pound limit.
“From flyweight to junior middleweight, eight divisions,” Pacquiao said. “Every fight, every victory was a step further from poverty. It was not just for me but for my family, for the Filipino people.” (AP)
