WBA mulls reinstating Pacquiao as champ

Manny Pacquiao —AFP

Manny Pacquiao could be reinstated as the super WBA welterweight champion soon.

WBA president Gilberto Mendoza said there’s a great chance Pacquiao will regain his status ahead of his showdown with IBF and WBC champion Errol Spence Jr.

“[MP Promotions head] Sean Gibbons, who represents Manny, they’ve written a letter to be placed back in [as champion].” Mendoza told ThaBoxingVoice.

“We’re working on it. There’s a high probability. It has to be run through a championship committee and voted before being taken to the president.”

Pacquiao beat Keith Thurman back in July 2019 to win the super WBA crown but he was relegated as the association’s “champion in recess” in January due to inactivity largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 42-year-old Pacquiao, the only eight-division champion of boxing, and Spence clash on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas. INQ