Numero uno

After proving to the world recently that age is just a number, Manny Pacquiao has been ranked No. 1 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) in its August 2025 ratings.

Pacquiao’s installation on top of the 147-pound class in the WBC came on the heels of his exemplary performance against 30-year-old defending champion Mario Barrios last month in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, 46, battled Barrios to a majority draw at the MGM Grand in a fight many thought should have been awarded to the Filipino eight-division legend.

“Yeah, he’s at No. 1 but really, he should be the champion,” lamented MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons on Saturday, still hasn’t gotten over the heartbreaking result.

Gibbons added that the working date for Pacquiao’s next fight — hopefully with a world crown at stake — is 13 December.

The latest WBC rankings also had former world champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo on top in the super-feather division following his win in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Barrios headliner.

Also ranked highly is former unified world super-bantamweight king Marlon Tapales, at No. 2 behind the top-rated Mexican David Picasso.

A noticeable drop was observed in the 122-pound class where three-division champion John Riel Casimero, who hasn’t fought in almost a year owing to a Japan suspension for being overweight, sank to No. 14 from the previous No. 13.

Making the WBC list are Charly Suarez at No. 12 in the super-feather bracket; Orient-Pacific champion Kenneth Llover at No. 145 at bantam; JayR Raquinel at No. 5 at flyweight; Mark Vicelles at No. 15 also at fly; Jayson Vayson (No. 8), Christian Araneta (No. 12) and Arvin Magramo (No. 13) at light-fly; and Joey Canoy (No. 3) and Vic Saludar (No. 10) at strawweight.

A Filipino, Juan Miguel Elorde, grandson of the legendary Flash Elorde, is among the members of the 22-man WBC Ratings Committee.

Meanwhile, Gibbons is meeting with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman in Mexico City to discuss the Thrilla in Manila 50th year anniversary celebration on 29 October at the Araneta Coliseum.

The plan is to stage at least two world title fights, including the third defense of Melvin Jerusalem’s WBC strawweight title against Mexican Daniel Valladares.

Also being eyed is the second defense of Pedro Taduran’s International Boxing Federation minimumweight crown against Richard Balunan, a Filipino.

Likewise appearing on the same event are top super-featherweight Mark Magsayo, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and Carl Jammes Martin.

Joining hands with Gibbons and Joe Ramos in staging the Thrilla celebration is Pacquiao’s immensely popular boxing show Blow-By-Blow.