Pacquiao could lose WBA welterweight title

WORLD BOXING News or WBN reported that Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao may be stripped of his World Boxing Association or WBA welterweight title if he goes through with a fight against Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor.

Rumors that Pacquiao – who is also a member of the Philippine senate - would fight McGregor began in 2019, according to the report which further said that “both parties have since ratified them during the pandemic crisis. Now, it looks as though a money-spinning battle will go down for charity in the second quarter of 2021.”

McGregor, in a recent tweet, said: “Anyway all water under the bridge who gives a fook. I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East.”

Sports Insider also tweeted in August that the McGregor has been teasing a comeback, and one option could involve a $250 million mega-bout against Pacquiao.

But WBN said: “As the current WBA welterweight champion, Pacquiao will almost certainly be relieved of the strap if he doesn’t defend it in the next few months. Due to Covid-19, it’s already been over a year since the Filipino Senator took the belt from Keith Thurman in Las Vegas.”

It added: “The World Boxing Association would have given Pacquiao a grace period due to the coronavirus stopping so many fights. But they will want movement in the next six months or so. It’s highly doubtful that Pacquiao will be able to wait another year to defend the championship.”

WBN said at present, Yordinis Ugas is the ‘regular’ champion. The Cuban will want his shot at the full version to be recognized entirely as the real belt holder. Therefore, Pacquiao will undoubtedly have to face Ugas in 2021. If he doesn’t, the WBA will be forced to act and elevated Ugas to full titleholder.

As WBN previously pointed out, Pacquiao won’t be able to defend his strap against McGregor as the UFC star is 0-1 in a boxing ring. He’s also unranked. McGregor would have to fight somebody else first. Possibly pick up a fringe WBA title in order to be rated.

“The WBA would then have to agree a request for Pacquiao to put it on the line in an exhibition charity bout. An entirely unlikely scenario, in a nutshell, Pacquiao will no longer be a champion at 147 pounds if he does go through with the McGregor event. The timeframe doesn’t fit. The WBA could then sanction Ugas vs. interim champion, Jamal James, for the full title,” the report - filed by Phil Jay, the Editor of WBN - said. (WBN. With additional report from the Mindanao Examiner)

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