THREE days after suffering an upset loss, Manny Pacquiao hinted of a rematch with World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás in January
Pacquiao and his family remained in the US and inserted an exclusive interview with theathletic.com, telling veteran writer Lance Pugmire that he’s open to a rematch with the Cuban orthodox boxer.
The sitting Philippine senator earlier stressed that he’ll announce next month on whether or not he’s retiring from boxing or if he will be running for president in May’s general elections.
MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons confirmed to BusinessMirror on Thursday that the interview did happen in one of Pacquiao’s homes in Los Angeles.
“Yes, that’s a legit one,” said Gibbons, referring to Pugmire’s article at The Athletic, quoting the eight-division world champion that “I can come back in January and I’ll see about it.”
Gibbons said that the 42-year-old Pacquiao could get a rematch if he wants to.
“All he needs is ask Premier Boxing Champions [PBC] big boss Al Haymon,” Gibbons said. PBC promoted the Pacquiao-Ugás fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (67-8-2 win-loss-draw record with 39 knockouts) admitted that he was fatigued during his fight with Ugás (27-4 record with 12 knockouts) and suffered cramps in his thighs and legs.
Pacquiao and his family are expected to fly home this weekend.
The WBA, the oldest professional world boxing sanctioning body, meanwhile, will honor Pacquiao as a welterweight “Champion for Life.”
Gibbons confirmed that before Sunday’s fight, he arranged a meeting between Pacquiao and WBA President Gilberto Mendoza at the senator’s suites at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
“The WBA honored the senator’s accomplishments, what he has done, and what he has given to boxing,” Gibbons said. “And that’s a gesture that should be done, it’s very nice for the WBA to recognize him.”
Gibbons said that the WBA president apologized to Pacquiao about their “mistake” of stripping him of the WBA belt because of inactivity.
“It takes a big man to come face to face with someone and explain that they are wrong. He showed up with his wife at MGM, and he said that he was misled and he didn’t understand exactly what was happening and he apologized later on—and that’s it,” Gibbons said.
Pacquiao, according to Gibbons, accepted Mendoza’s apology. The WBA chief also commended Pacquiao, telling him that “you have behaved like a real gentleman and you teach lessons to others.”
Pacquiao won the WBA belt from Keith Thurman last July 20, 2019, at the MGM Grand Arena via split decision. But the boxing body stripped Pacquiao of the title last January 30 and categorized him as “champion in recess” and elevating Ugás as champion.
The WBA is preparing an honorary title for Pacquiao as part of its centennial celebration, Gibbons said.
Image courtesy of AP