Countdown to IBHOF

The countdown begins, again. With his official formal retirement circulating the globe, it’s just over 1,000 days until Manny Pacquiao is eligible for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in Canastota, New York. With his star-studded hit list of victims and unprecedented championships in eight weight divisions, the event is a foregone conclusion, the ink drying on an exclamation point to an incredible career. Yet, despite the rich, roughly 100-year history of pugilism in the Philippines, Pacquiao will only be the fourth Filipino who will be inducted into the Hall.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame was launched in 1989; its first class was inducted in 1990. Three years later, the first Filipino was honored with permanent inclusion: Gabriel “Flash” Elorde. Elorde held the world junior lightweight title for seven years straight before unsuccessfully moving up in weight. The following year, 1994, Pancho Villa was enshrined under the Old Timers category for boxers before the Modern era. The former bootblack named Francisco Guilledo was the first world boxing champion from Asia, and is still considered by some as the greatest flyweight of all time despite being only 4’9.” Sadly, he died of a tooth infection at age 23, which is ironic, since he survived fighting anywhere from 25 to 28 times a year.

It would be more than a decade before another Filipino would get an IBHOF plaque. In 2005, Lope “Papa” Sarreal was inducted under the Non-Participant category. Sarreal, Elorde’s father-in-law, promoted 22 world champions, and is credited with laying the foundation for boxing in the Philippines as we know it. That was the last time anyone from the Philippine boxing community was added.

For its 25th anniversary in 2014, the IBHOF made sweeping changes in its eligibility and voting procedures. Voting for the Pioneer category would only be held every five years. The Hall also moved the Modern era’s starting point from 1943 to 1989, almost half a century. The list of nominees for each year was shortened from 45 to 30, and voters could only nominate five boxers instead of the previous 10. The Old Timers category was divided into Early Era (1893-1942) and Late Era (1943-1988). To be considered, a boxer must have fought his last fight within those periods.

On its 30th anniversary in 2019, the IBHOF decided to shorten the qualification period from five to just three years after retirement. This suddenly made Timothy Bradley Jr., Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins eligible, as each last fought in 2016. Bradley stopped boxing professionally after his third fight with Pacquiao. It’s funny when you consider that, if the Pacman did stay retired after he had won his Senate seat, he’d already be in the Hall of Fame by now.

After Pacquiao, are there any more clear-cut front-runners for future inclusion into the Hall of Fame? Two more multiple-division champions, Nonito Donaire Jr. and Donnie Nietes are in the last few years of their magnificent careers. Donaire is 38; Nietes is 39. After them, it may be a while before we see any more Filipino boxers worthy of being immortalized for the world to see.