Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao just unwrapped an early Christmas surprise: heโs officially part of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) Class of 2025.
The IBHOF announced that Manny is one of the 14 inductees joining the ranks of boxing greats at the prestigious ceremony scheduled in June 2025 in Canastota, New York.
In a brief statement, Manny described the honor a timely gift for the holidays. “I am so happy that I have been selected to enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame. This certainly is a wonderful Christmas gift,” said the eight-division world champ.
“Today, I am humbled knowing that in June, I will receive boxing’s highest honor, joining our national hero, Flash Elorde, as well as my trainer and friend Freddie Roach,” he added.
Even in retirement Manny continues to beam with pride for his Filipin roots. “Throughout my career, as a professional fighter and a public servant, it has been my goal to bring honor to my country, The Philippines, and my fellow Filipinos around the world,โ he said.
The IBHOF Class of 2025 announced! @MannyPacquiao @5XPAZ Michael Nunn @KikachavezOf Anne Sophie Mathis, Mary Jo Sanders Kenny Bayless, Al Gavin, Harry Gibbs @CommishRandyG Ross Greenburg, Rodrigo Valdez, Cathy Davis & Owen Swift to honored. More info here https://t.co/SvGyIacKpZ pic.twitter.com/HFFChGWk1a
— Boxing Hall of Fame (@BoxingHall) December 5, 2024
Joining Manny in the IBHOF Class of 2025 are other boxing champs, including Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Paz and Michael “Second To” Nunn in the Men’s Modern category, as well as Yessica “Kika” Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis, and Mary Jo Sanders in the Women’s Modern category.
Other honorees include Cathy “Cat” Davis in the Women’s Trailblazer category, referee Kenny Bayless, cutman Al Gavin (posthumous), and referee Harry Gibbs (posthumous) in the Non-Participant category, among others.
Launched in 1989, the International Boxing Hall of Fame celebrates the legacy of boxing icons from around the world.
Following the announcement, the boxing world flooded social media with congratulatory messages for Manny:
LEGENDARY STATUS CEMENTED ๐
Congratulations to @MannyPacquiao on being inducted into the International @BoxingHall of Fame class of 2025 ๐ pic.twitter.com/6S8IaxplhV
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) December 6, 2024
๐ต๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐จ on his well-deserved induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame!
His accomplishments in boxing are nothing short of remarkable. pic.twitter.com/E0hFzVzRNK
— WBO (@WorldBoxingOrg) December 6, 2024
.@MannyPacquiao, winner of titles in a record 8 weight classes, elected to @BoxingHall via @AP. @FreddieRoach #MannyPacquiaohttps://t.co/79v0GtStbw
— Fred Sternburg (@TooFred) December 6, 2024
I opened my gym, @WildCardBoxing1 , in hopes that the next Muhammad Ali would walk through the door. Little did I know that in 2001, my Muhammad Ali would weigh 122 pounds. His name was @MannyPacquiao and he was and still is the pride of the Philippines. For twenty years,โฆ pic.twitter.com/3vY1R1CHbp
— Freddie Roach (@FreddieRoach) December 6, 2024
