THERE aren’t too many things that I agree with Manny Pacquiao these days but his expressed desire to fight for the Philippines in the Tokyo Olympics isn’t one of them.
Pacquiao, who is fighting Keith Thurman on July 21, 2019, said he’s willing to fight for an Olympic gold if he gets the chance.
A preposterous statement over a decade ago when he was chosen as the flag bearer for the Philippine delegation in the Beijing Olympics is now a possibility, thanks to changes in Aiba. Professional fighters were first allowed in the Rio Olympics but no big name fighter took the chance and the two who did were knocked out in the preliminary rounds.
Now, despite the turmoil that led to Aiba’s banishment from being involved in the Tokyo Olympics, the International Olympic Committee has kept the door open for the pros, as long as they go through the qualification process.
Pacquiao, who loves to keep on harping on how his fights is all for love of the country and not money, will have the chance to walk the talk if he does decide to go through the qualifiers. If he does and makes it to Tokyo, I think he’s going to be our best chance for an Olympic gold.
Another benefit of Pacquiao fighting for the flag would be that the other fighters might copy it. I know most Pinoy pros dream of that world title shot for that life-changing purse (if somehow they don’t squander it) for their families. But an Olympic gold medal carries at least a P10-million incentive from the Philippine Sports Commission. That’s excluding the other amount other benefactors might want to give. Look at Hidilyn Diaz, she got more than double the official incentive because a lot of benefactors showered her for ending the country’s medal drought in the Olympics.
Imagine the accolades and financial gains the country’s first gold medalist can get. I think it can eclipse any Pinoy pro boxer’s earnings in the ring, unless, of course, you’re a Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao surely doesn’t need the money, but I hope he can get the other pro fighters to think of the Olympics as another option for a “world title” while they still allow pros to fight.
I know being a pro in Olympic boxing, of course, is not a guarantee for a title, but I think some of our top prospects who are a fight away from a world title or are on the top of their division definitely have a great chance to bring home one.