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Stripped of his World Boxing Association (WBA) title, Senator Manny Pacquiao was assisted by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) in his bid to regain the belt he won against Keith Thurman.
GAB President Abraham “Baham” Mitra appealed to WBA President Gilberto Jesús Mendoza with a two-page letter requesting the restoration of Pacquiao’s welterweight championship belt.
“The law obliges GAB to defend the rights of all Filipino professional boxers at all times. That is why we are appealing to the WBA to reconsider its decision, ” Mitra said.
The WBA decided to take the title away from Pacquiao and instead was named “champion in recess” due to the inactivity of the Philippine boxing icon in the ring.
Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas replaced the eight division boxing world champion as the current WBA “super” welterweight champion.
Pacquiao defeated Thurman by split decision on July 20, 2019 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, to become the oldest welterweight to win a major title in boxing history at age 40.
Required by law to regulate and supervise professional boxing in the country, the GAB stepped in and asked the WBA to shed light on the issue of revoking Pacquiao’s title.
“We are studying the WBA Rules and we want to help our good senator, who may have to fight next,” Mitra said.
“In addition, we want to know from our partners in the WBA what documentation in particular we must have to meet the WBA requirements to regain the WBA belt, should our boxing champion Pinoy choose to do so,” added Mitra.
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