“Boxing is the only sport you can get your brain shook, your money took, and your name in the undertaker book.” –Joe Frazier

At 40 years old, Senator Manny Pacquiao is one of few boxing champions to defend a title against a younger opponent. He is about to eclipse Irish-Canadian world welterweight champion Jimmy McLarnin, who was not yet 30 when he battled Barney Ross in an epic three-fight world welterweight series; in the past, challengers for world titles were considered “over the hill.”

Most of these challengers were sent into retirement after failing to regain lost glory; among them include Sugar Ray Leonard, Hector Camacho, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, and Roberto Duran – to name a few marquee names.

For Pacquiao, he will be defending a legitimate belt, the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title, against former four division champion Adrien Broner this weekend in Las Vegas. Today, only the WBA, World Boxing Council (WBC), and International Boxing Federation are considered legitimate boxing authorities.

Crowns

The Filipino boxer previously won titles with the World Boxing Organization (WBO), along with the dubious International Boxing Organization after flattening Ricky Hatton in two rounds back in 2009. 10 years after capturing Miguel Angel Cotto’s WBO welterweight title that same year, Pacquiao cemented his reputation as a world champion under the WBO, which charged lesser sanction fees.

Team Pacquiao, then under the tutelage of Bob Arum and Top Rank, avoided the “more expensive” WBC, despite winning their first world title under the said authority.

Pacquiao earned millions of dollars to become one of the richest fighting under the WBO.

Last

Pacquiao’s last WBC appearance was in 2015, when he lost to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. The latter risked the WBA super welterweight, WBC welterweight, and WBO welterweight titles but earned over P100 million.

Who cares if Pacquiao fights under shady boxing authorities? Fans pay to see him destroy opponents and every time the senator enters the ring, fans are not questioning the legitimacy of the bout.

If he rolls past his challenger, Pacquiao will earn another special place in history: 40-year-old welterweight champion who successfully defended their title./WDJ