- Manny Pacquiao won world titles in eight weight divisions before retiring in 2021
- Officials have confirmed that the age limit for boxers at 40 will be retained
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Manny Pacquiao’s hopes of competing in the Paris Olympics have been dashed after the International Olympic Committee decided not to change entry rules to allow the 45-year-old boxing great to enter the ring.
Pacquaio retired from professional boxing in 2021, but the former eight-weight world champion was hoping to make a comeback at the Games this summer.
However, on Sunday the IOC announced that it had written to Olympic officials in the Philippines to confirm that the age limit of 40 for boxers would be retained.
The limit for Olympic boxing was changed from 34 to 40 in 2013 – a move that would have allowed Pacquaio to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
He chose not to do so when he was also elected senator in his home country.
Manny Pacquiao’s hopes of competing in the Paris Olympics this summer have been dashed
The IOC is now responsible for Olympic boxing after withdrawing its governing body from the International Boxing Association.
It is unclear whether Pacquaio would have tried to secure a place at the Paris Olympics in one of the two qualifying tournaments that start later this month in Italy and in May in Thailand.
The Philippine Olympic organization had discussed getting a so-called ‘universal’ entry into the Paris Summer Games.
These are essentially free tickets to events given to countries that have few athletes in the Olympics and typically struggle to qualify on merit.
Pacquiao in action against Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather during an incredible boxing career
However, the IOC explained on Sunday that the Philippines had been too successful to benefit from the plan.
“Universality places will not be awarded to (teams) with an average of more than eight athletes in individual sports/disciplines during the last two editions of the Olympic Games,” the IOC said. “This is the case for the Philippine Olympic Committee.”
Pacquaio ended his legendary career in September 2021 at the age of 42 after 72 fights, winning 12 world titles in a record eight different weight classes.
These medal fights for this year’s Games will be held at the Roland Garros tennis complex.