Manny Pacquiao is eager to change his current status as former eight-division champion, hoping for an upgrade before he enters the ring for his next fight.
As previously documented by the media in his native Philippines, the legendary Filipino southpaw has begun the process of having his welterweight title reign reinstated. The World Boxing Association (WBA) removed him as its “Super” welterweight champion earlier this year, passing along that status to Yordenis Ugas—its previous “World” champion at the weight—while assigning Pacquiao the “Champion in Recess” tag.
Upon the announcement of Pacquiao next facing unified WBC/IBF welterweight titlist Errol Spence (27-0, 21KOs), the hope is for their August 21 Fox Sports Pay-Per-View headliner to have three belts on the line.
“The WBA has the Senator in recess. Well, recess is over and school is back in session,” Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions and longtime Pacquiao confidant told BoxingScene.com.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39KOs) claimed the WBA “Super” welterweight title following a 12-round decision win over then-unbeaten Keith Thurman in their July 2019 title consolidation clash at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao—a full-time Senator in his home country—entered the bout as a secondary titlist, having claimed that belt in a 7th round knockout win over Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse in July 2018.
With the win over Thurman, the “World” title previously owned by Pacquiao was made available in a vacant title fight last September. Ugas claimed the strap with a 12-round decision win over Abel Ramos, receiving the upgrade four months later following the WBA’s decision that Pacquiao failed to verify his intentions to return and defend after having been out of the ring for 18 months by that point.
From there came whispers of Ugas potentially next facing Spence in a three-belt unification bout this summer. A bombshell announcement earlier this month confirmed otherwise, with Pacquiao—who has held titles at 112, 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147 (three times) and 154—taking on the unbeaten Spence.
Given that Ugas has not yet fought nor has yet announced any such plans, the belief is that the matter should be as simple as returning to the original sender. A recent interview conducted by WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza with Tha Boxing Voice acknowledged that the matter is currently under review.
“The Senator won the belt by beating the real “Super” champion, Keith Thurman,” notes Gibbons. “Now, we look for the WBA to reinstate him as the WBA “Super” champion. Viva!”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
