THE camp of Manny Pacquiao was taken aback by the decision of the World Boxing Association (WBA) to strip the legendary Filipino fighter of his welterweight title belt.
Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions, said he has no idea about the ruling by the boxing body to declare the 42-year-old Pacquiao as ‘champion in recess.’
“I have no idea what that $@*&% means,” said Gibbons from Las Vegas.
The WBA’s decision stemmed from Pacquiao’s inability to defend the title he won in 2019 following a split decision win over previously unbeaten Keith Thurman.
The global COVID-19 pandemic prevented the Filipino senator from travelling anywhere in the world to stake his 147-lb belt.
Yorden Ugas of Cuba has since been promoted as the current champion.
In relegating Pacquiao as a ‘champion in recess,’ the WBA cited Rule C. 22-24 stating that ‘when a champion is unable to defend the belt for medical, legal, or other reasons beyond his control, he may be named champion in recess.’
The same case applied for Nordine Oubaali who was made ‘champion in recess’ after failing to defend his bantamweight belt against Filipino Nonito Donaire Jr. when he tested positive for COVID-19 in the final quarter of last year.
Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico was later named as a replacement for Oubaali with the regular 118-lb belt at stake. Unfortunately, Donaire also tested positive a few weeks before the title fight despite the Filipino’s plea that it was case of false positive based on several confirmatory tests he took shortly after.
That paved the way for Filipino Reymart Gaballo to take the Rodriguez fight on short notice, although only the interim bantamweight belt was on the line.
Gaballo went on to score a disputed split decision upset over the Puerto Rican, although the WBA has since ruled a rematch between the two this year.
Meanwhile, Oubaali has since been reinstated as regular bantamweight champion, whose title will be at stake in a March fight. Winner of the bout will then face Donaire in a mandatory title match.
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