Manny Pacquiao (Photo : AFP/Getty Images)
Manny Pacquiao has a chance to compete for a Gold Medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, with the International Boxing Association plotting a grand plan that would allow professional boxers to fight in the quadrennial event.
Sports Interactive Network Philippines reported that Alliance of Boxing Associations of the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Ed Picson claimed that Pacquiao has long been interested in the idea of fighting in the Olympics.
According to Picson, Pacquiao had met with AIBA president Dr. Wu Ching-ko last year at the governing body's biennial World Boxing Championships competition in Qatar, where the two discussed about allowing professional boxers to compete in Olympic Games.
The report added that Wu wants Pacquiao's backing before making the final push for pro boxers in Rio, with the two set to meet again to talk about the matter.
The Olympic only allow amateur level boxers to participate at the event, but Wu has indicated that AIBA's proposals have been pushed through in a bed to let pro fighters join the festivities of the Games.
"We want the best boxers to come to the Olympic Games. It is AIBA's 70th birthday, and we want something to change - not after four years, but now," Wu said, reports the Express.
"It is an IOC policy to have the best athletes in the Games, and of the international federations, AIBA is probably the only one without professional athletes in the Olympics."
While it would be exciting to see Pacquiao fighting for a Gold Medal in Rio against other professional boxers in the world, Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum thinks it is "unrealistic" for the former eight-division titlist to participate in Rio with the "lack of time and preparation."
Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz also sees it impossible for the Filipino to don the Philippine flag in August due to the 37-year-old's political agenda.
"I do not think it is going to happen," Koncz told The Manila Times. "I doubt it if ever it happens because Manny is very busy preparing for his fight against Timothy Bradley on April 9 in Las Vegas and the election. Manny is running for a senatorial seat and he has no time for it."
Pacquiao is set for a final fight in his professional career against Timothy Bradley on Apr. 9 in Las Vegas. If the Filipino boxing icon plans to compete in Rio, and if the amendments went successful, Pacquiao would only have a limited time to recover and train for the qualifiers in June.
