The spotlight is on Manny Pacquiao once more.
As Philippine boxing celebrates a milestone with the staging of the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila, Pacquiao took the limelight Tuesday when he was made vice president by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Not only that.
On the same day, reports from the United States said that a proposed rematch between him and Floyd Mayweather is being eyed for 2026.
Netflix will be doing the broadcast of the planned Mayweather-Pacquiao, a fight which won’t likely generate the same kind of buzz of their May 2015 duel but remains a marketable event.
The IBA is in town to lend a helping hand to the Thrilla that will have Filipino champion Melvin Jerusalem and South African challenger Siyakholwa Kuse as main event on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Jerusalem-Kuse encounter will have the World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight championship as main prize.
Pacquiao, boxing’s one and only eight-division champion, remains relevant even though he is pushing 47.
Last July, he almost became a world champion when he battled Mario Barrios to a draw for the WBC welter strap.
There are reports that Pacquiao could see himself vying for a world crown anew in late-January.
The opponent being eyed is the rugged Rolly Romero, holder of the World Boxing Association belt.