Manny Pacquiao enshrined in boxing's Hall of Fame just as he resumes his record-setting career
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.'
Vinny Paz, the three-division champion formerly known as Vinny Pazienza, who overcame a broken neck sustained in a car crash to resume his career, and Michael Nunn, a champion at middleweight and super middleweight, were the other top men's fighters in the class.
Women in the class included Yessica Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis, Mary Jo Sanders and Cathy 'Cat' Davis, who, after filing a sex discrimination suit against the New York State Athletic Commission, became one of the first women to be granted a pro boxing license by the organisation in 1978.
ALSO READ | World Boxing's membership list grows past 100
Pointing to the jewellery the inductees received, Davis said: 'I've got this beautiful ring here and I asked them to make it big enough for my middle finger, because if I ever see those old white stupid men who kept us out, you know what I'm going to do.'
Kenny Bayless, who worked some of Pacquiao's biggest fights, including his loss to Floyd Mayweather and knockout of Ricky Hatton, and fellow referee Harry Gibbs, were enshrined, along with cut man Al Gavin. Broadcaster Randy Gordon, HBO producer Ross Greenburg and late boxers Rodrigo Valdez and Owen Swift rounded out the class.
Pacquiao retired in 2021 with a record of 62-8-2 with 39 KOs, fighting in some of the biggest blockbusters of the 2000s. He said he always sought the toughest opponents so he could continue testing himself.
That made him far richer than he could have imagined when he was raised in poverty in the Philippines. He went on to serve his country as a senator from 2016-22 and ran unsuccessfully for president, and his voice broke a bit as he thanked his fans from home along with his family.
'This is our victory,' Pacquiao said. 'This is our story and the best is yet to come.'
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The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Manny Pacquiao enshrined in boxing's Hall of Fame just as he resumes his record-setting career
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.' Vinny Paz, the three-division champion formerly known as Vinny Pazienza, who overcame a broken neck sustained in a car crash to resume his career, and Michael Nunn, a champion at middleweight and super middleweight, were the other top men's fighters in the class. Women in the class included Yessica Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis, Mary Jo Sanders and Cathy 'Cat' Davis, who, after filing a sex discrimination suit against the New York State Athletic Commission, became one of the first women to be granted a pro boxing license by the organisation in 1978. ALSO READ | World Boxing's membership list grows past 100 Pointing to the jewellery the inductees received, Davis said: 'I've got this beautiful ring here and I asked them to make it big enough for my middle finger, because if I ever see those old white stupid men who kept us out, you know what I'm going to do.' Kenny Bayless, who worked some of Pacquiao's biggest fights, including his loss to Floyd Mayweather and knockout of Ricky Hatton, and fellow referee Harry Gibbs, were enshrined, along with cut man Al Gavin. Broadcaster Randy Gordon, HBO producer Ross Greenburg and late boxers Rodrigo Valdez and Owen Swift rounded out the class. Pacquiao retired in 2021 with a record of 62-8-2 with 39 KOs, fighting in some of the biggest blockbusters of the 2000s. He said he always sought the toughest opponents so he could continue testing himself. That made him far richer than he could have imagined when he was raised in poverty in the Philippines. He went on to serve his country as a senator from 2016-22 and ran unsuccessfully for president, and his voice broke a bit as he thanked his fans from home along with his family. 'This is our victory,' Pacquiao said. 'This is our story and the best is yet to come.'
NDTV
6 days ago
- NDTV
'Rested' Manny Pacquiao Relishing Boxing Comeback At 46
Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, told reporters on Tuesday that the glamour of championship boxing had prompted his return. "I'm returning because I miss my boxing," Pacquiao said at a press conference in Los Angeles. "Especially these situations -- being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. "I missed that. But it has been good for me -- I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back." Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. "I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'" Pacquiao said. "That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago -- I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes." Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still had the fitness and strength to fight. "I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym my house -- I have complete sport facilities in my house -- that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power," he said. 'Low-risk' comeback Some in boxing have expressed concerns about whether Pacquiao's comeback against Barrios, who is 16 years his junior, represents a risk to the Filipino's safety. Addressing those concerns, Pacquiao noted that his family and loved ones were firmly behind his comeback. "I'm thankful for them for their concern," Pacquiao told AFP. "But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style." Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told AFP on Tuesday that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter's comeback as "low risk". "Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring," Sulaiman said. "Manny has rested his body for four years. He's not a drinker. He's not a drug user. He's a family man that has taken care of himself. So of the different aspects of dangers, he's at the lowest risk." Pacquiao's opponent, Barrios, said he would set aside the Filipino's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era. "There's nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring," Barrios said of Pacquiao. "He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed. "And I know if at any point he has me hurt, you know he's going to get me out of there. So I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Time of India
Jamaican boxing legend Mike McCallum, "The Bodysnatcher," dies at 68
The world of boxing is in mourning following the passing of one of its all-time greats. Mike McCallum , the flourishing world champion and Hall of Fame boxer of Jamaica, died suddenly on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the age of 68 in Las Vegas . McCallum reportedly became unwell on his way to the gym, pulled over to the side of the road, and was found lifeless. He earned the nickname " The Bodysnatcher " due to his fierce body punches. McCallum became the first Jamaican to ever win a world championship title. He won the WBA Junior Middleweight belt in 1984 at Madison Square Garden from Irishman Sean Mannion. His career continued to rise from there as he went on to capture the WBA Middleweight and WBC Light Heavyweight titles, solidifying his status as a tenacious and adaptable fighter. McCallum's legacy is not in his titles alone, but in his influence on the sport. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003 and was ranked eighth by The Ring Magazine in 2011 as one of the "10 Best Middleweight Title Holders of the Last 50 Years." In Jamaica, he was a seven-time Jamaica Sportsman of the Year , inspiring generations of Caribbean athletes. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Linda Kozlowski, 67, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New Photo Today's NYC Undo Jamaica's Sport Minister, Olivia Grange, spoke on the nation's sorrow: 'It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time World Boxing Champion Michael McKenzie McCallum. I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children. On behalf of the Ministry of Sports I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican.' Live Events Mike McCallum's legacy as a trailblazer and world champion will never be forgotten, neither in Jamaica nor the rest of the globe. The Bodysnatcher's is a story of resilience, ability, and national pride—a source of inspiration for all.
