Manny’s induction to proceed
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 29 May 2025
It’s a rule to be retired for at least three years before a fighter is eligible for nomination to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Manny Pacquiao’s last fight was in 2021 so he was eligible for induction and made it on the first ballot this year. He’s scheduled to be enshrined at the Hall of Fame headquarters in Canastota, New York during the June 5-8 celebration. But with Pacquiao coming out of retirement to face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas on July 19, will his induction be revoked?
In Sugar Ray Leonard’s case, he was voted into the Hall of Fame in January 1997 after a retirement of nearly six years. At the time, the countdown from retirement to eligibility was at least five years. Curiously, Leonard had announced his un-retirement to take on Hector Camacho when he was elected. The quirk was the induction was scheduled on June 15, 1997 or after his comeback fight on March 1, 1997. Still, the enshrinement went on and Leonard was inducted three months after engaging Camacho. The point of reckoning is the retirement period which establishes eligibility, regardless of a later comeback.
MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said Pacquiao’s induction will proceed even if he’s un-retiring to battle Barrios. It’s a case similar to Leonard’s. Gibbons said the Hall of Fame weekend event will “cut a little bit into training” but it’s not a concern. “Manny can work out on the grounds, do shadow boxing, do whatever,” he said. Pacquiao will fit the ceremony into his schedule even if it means traveling from West to East Coast.
The nagging question that fans are asking is at 46, can Pacquiao turn back the hands of time and beat Barrios who at 30, wasn’t even born when the Filipino icon made his pro debut in 1995? Pacquiao is a physical phenomenon and despite logging 72 fights, shows no signs of being shop-worn. His faculties are intact and sharp. He moves like he’s 20 years younger. Long-time trainer Buboy Fernandez said it’s the punch that counts, not the age.
If Pacquiao dethrones Barrios, he’ll extend his record as the oldest world welterweight champion. Pacquiao set the mark when at 40, he beat Keith Thurman to become the super WBA welterweight titlist. Pacman was 42 when he yielded the throne to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. As for the oldest world champion in history, Bernard Hopkins holds the record. The Executioner was 49 when he lost the super WBA and IBF lightheavyweight titles to Sergey Kovalev in 2014.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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