MANNY PACQUIAO Promotions President Sean Gibbons slammed the World Boxing Association (WBA) for refusing to reinstate Manny Pacquiao as world super welterweight champion.

"We were never given due process, we were never notified that there's an issue with the WBA," Gibbons told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. "The recess is over and we're the champion—you don't lose your belt in a boardroom."

The WBA relegated Pacquiao as champion in recess because of the Filipino boxing icon's failure to defend his crown in pandemic year 2020.

But Pacquiao, Gibbons said, followed WBA rules to the letter by fighting inside a 12-month period—July 15, 2018 to July 20, 2019—becoming world super welterweight champion after he knocked out WBA regular welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur.

Pacquiao defended his belt against four-division world champion Adrien Broner via unanimous decision in January 19, 2019, and scored a split decision win over erstwhile unbeaten Keith Thurman in July 20, 2019 also at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas to seize the super welterweight title.

Gibbons said he is frustrated with the WBA's decision of keeping Cuban Yurdonis Ugas as its super welterweight champion despite Pacquiao all set to fight unified champion Errol Spence Jr. on August 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

"We are filing a notice that we are the WBA super champion and we want to be recognized," Gibbons said. "We were never notified properly and legally."

"Manny didn't receive due process and respect," Gibbons said. "It took two years to get the world title belt he earned inside the ring by beating the undefeated Thurman."

Image courtesy of AP

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