It was news in boxing that maybe went unnoticed more than it should towards the end of 2025 but really game changing news for amateur boxing no less.
That was that the IBA, the International Boxing Association, the premier organization for amateur boxing worldwide in the sport that has all the big and best name fighters attending their events regularly, appointed Manny Pacquiao as the Vice President of the organization.
Pacquiao is a fighter that has gone beyond boxing in his own right of course, he is an eight-weight division world champion and now a living legend as an active Hall of Famer who is still an active boxer.
Remarkably at 47, he drew with Mario Barrios in his last bout but most thought Pacquiao deserved to get the decision.
How Far Can Manny Pacquiao Take The IBA In 2026
As Vice President of the IBA that is a significant job for the organization and as professional boxing expands in the East more and more, the IBA does also sometimes have a close link with pro boxing so surely Pacquiao can help boxing expand in the East.
Surely that is the thinking behind appointing him.
Pacquiao was in Dubai recently and has a big fan base obviously in Asia but in many parts of the East and there are many English speakers in the East and in Asia obviously.
So Pacquiao can bring his good English-speaking to this job as well and bring maybe more Western stars, Western people and Western boxing fans over to events and fights in the East even.
It is a big coup for the IBA to get someone like Pacquiao as their Vice President, it really is, he is known worldwide and is respected as the great champion and man that he is for his country and the entire sport worldwide.
He can take the IBA very far in the East and surely they will take over the Olympics for amateur boxing at some point or when World Boxing (who are set to oversee amateur boxing at the next 2028 LA Olympics) can start working with them more at least.
Manny Pacquiao needs to take the IBA to new levels — and he will.
