FILE – Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines wears the champion’s belt after defeating Brandon Rios of the United States in their WBO international welterweight title fight Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in Macau. Pacquiao defeated Rios by unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)
Manny Pacquiao, who won titles in a record eight weight classes from flyweight to super welterweight while becoming one of boxing’s biggest draws, was elected Thursday to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Pacquiao, who fought in some of the blockbuster bouts of the 2000s before returning home to the Philippines to serve in its government, will be enshrined June 8 as the headline name in the 2025 class.
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Vinny Paz, who overcame a broken neck sustained in a car crash to resume his career, and two-division champion Michael Nunn were the other fighters elected from the men’s modern category.
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In all, 14 people were selected for the museum in Canastota, New York, through voting by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of international boxing historians.
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Pacquiao was an easy choice in his first year of eligibility after compiling a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during a pro career that began in 1995 and lasted until 2021.
“This certainly is a wonderful Christmas gift. Throughout my career, as a professional fighter and a public servant, it has been my goal to bring honor to my country, the Philippines, and my fellow Filipinos around the world,” Pacquiao said. “Today, I am humbled knowing that in June, I will receive boxing’s highest honor, joining our national hero, Flash Elorde, as well as my trainer and friend Freddie Roach.”
FILE – Manny Pacquiao fights Adrien Broner, not pictured, in a welterweight championship boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
A 106-pounder when he debuted, Pacquiao rose all the way to win a title at the 154-pound limit, yet never lost his speed as he put on more pounds and overwhelmed naturally bigger fighters with a dizzying flurry of power punches.
That led to wins over Mexican rivals such as Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, along with Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley. He ended Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya’s career with an eight-round pummeling in 2008, one of three years in which he was voted “Fighter of the Year” by the BBWA, which also voted him “Boxer of the Decade” for 2000-09.
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“I opened my gym, Wild Card Boxing Club, in hopes that the next Muhammad Ali would walk through the door. Little did I know that in 2001, my Muhammad Ali would weigh 122 pounds,” said Roach, who was still training Pacquiao when he was enshrined in 2012.
“As his collection of world championship belts grew, so did his presence in boxing and the world. Today’s announcement that Manny will be a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s class of 2025 makes me incredibly proud. As much as I loved working together with Manny all those years, I’m even happier sharing the same wall with him at the International Boxing Hall of Fame.”
Pacquiao becomes the fourth Filipino Hall of Famer, joining Elorde, Pancho Villa and Lope “Papa” Sarreal.
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Paz went 50-10 with 30 KOs in a career that seemed over soon after he stopped Gilbert Dele to win the WBA light middleweight title in 1991. He broke his neck six weeks later in the crash, but returned to the ring just over a year later.
The Rhode Island native who was born Vincenzo Pazienza went on to score two wins over Roberto Duran and win multiple super middleweight titles while fighting until 2004.
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Nunn won titles at middleweight and super middleweight and compiled a 58-4 record with 38 KOs from 1984-2002.
“As a small-town guy from Iowa to reach the highest achievement in boxing makes me proud,” Nunn said.
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The remainder of the class includes former women’s champions Yessica Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis and Mary Jo Sanders; referees Kenny Bayless and Harry Gibbs; and cut man Al Gavin.
Broadcaster Randy Gordon and HBO producer Ross Greenburg were elected from the Observer category, along with Cathy “Cat” Davis (women’s trailblazer), Rodrigo Valdez (old-timer) and Owen Swift (pioneer).