Manila, Philippines | AFP | Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao declared on Wednesday that it would be “an honor” to fight for his country at the Rio Olympics (August 5-21), which could allow for the first time the participation of professional boxers and not just amateurs.
“It would be an honor to represent the country at the Games,” Pacquiao told AFP, confirming that he was “personally invited” to Rio by the president of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA), Wu Ching-Kuo.
«If they ask me to represent boxing, why not? I would do anything for my country, “insisted the champion.
The Philippine Olympic Committee declined to comment on Pacquiao’s remarks.
The 37-year-old boxer, who has never participated in the Olympics but was the flag bearer for his country in 2008 in Beijing, is training for what should be his last professional fight, on April 9 in Las Vegas against Timothy Bradley.
AIBA must decide within three months on a reform to open the Olympic Games to all boxers starting in Rio. If this change is adopted, which will be put to a vote at the extraordinary congress in May, it would eliminate the historical distinction between the professional and amateur boxers.
Pacquiao would like to compete in the Rio Games for the Philippines
