The number of Filipinos inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame will increase in 2024 should Manny Pacquiao’s name gets included on the ballot.
Fresh from announcing the cast of 2023, the IBHOF will meet again and discuss the candidates eligible for inclusion next year.
In the latest batch, Pacquiao’s publicist Fred Sternburg was elected in the Non-Participants Category as he joins Top Rank head Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach — two men with solid links to Pacquiao — in the elite roster.
The formal induction will take place in June in Canastota, New York, home of the IBHOF.
Only three Filipinos have been inducted there: Boxers Pancho Villa and Flash Elorde and promoter Lope “Papa” Sarreal.
Elorde was the first to get his place among boxing’s immortal when he enshrined posthumously in 1993 while Villa was inducted the following year.
In 2005, Sarreal, who died in 1995 and credited for representing over 20 world champions and Elorde’s father-in-law, was enshrined.
As for Pacquiao, his enshrinement is just a matter of time.
Boxing’s first eight-division champion, Pacquiao, who retired in 2021, is best remembered for his four fights with Juan Manuel Marquez, his retirement of Oscar De La Hoya in 2008, his trilogy with Erik Morales as well as his upset of Marco Antonio Barrera.
Apart from these epic encounters, Pacquiao also took the spotlight with victories over Ricky Hatton, part of the 2023 batch, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Keith Thurman, Tim Bradley, Jesse Vargas, Lucas Matthysse, Chris Algieri, Hector Velazquez, Oscar Larios, Lehlo Ledwaba, Jorge Eliecer Julio and Chatchai Sasakul.
In 2025, he figured in boxing’s richest fight ever, a clash with Floyd Mayweather that generated over $600 million in revenue.
At the end of his legendary career, Pacquiao had logged a record of 62-8-2 with 39 knockouts, after winning world titles at flyweight (112 lbs), super-bantam (122), feather (126), super-feather (130), lightweight (135), super-light-weight (140), welter (147) and super-welter (154).
The Boxing Writers Association of America voted him as Fighter of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2009 while also being picked as Fighter of the Decade from 2000-2009.
The venerable Ring magazine likewise labeled him as Fighter of the Year also from 2006, 2008 and 2009.
The World Boxing Council likewise selected him as Boxer of the decade from 2001-2010.
Pacquiao could be eligible for induction since he would be retired from boxing in 2024, having fought the last time in 2021 against Cuban Yordenis Ugas.
As per IBHOF0 rules, a fighter should be retired for three years before being considered.
“I think a panel nominates, but Manny will not have any issue getting on the ballot. If they took me, they’ll take Manny,” Sternburg said.
