The boxing world may never again experience a phenomenon like Manny Pacquiao. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Former pound-for-pound great Manny Pacquiao and four-division champion Mikey Garcia are among the names making their first appearance on the International Boxing Hall of Fame ballot ahead of the Class of 2025 election.
Pacquiao, the first and only eight-division champion in boxing history, is a clear favorite to be captured during the IBHOF induction weekend June 5-8, 2025 in Canastota, NY. The 45-year-old Filipino boxer, who became a star for a career in politics and show business in his home country, won titles from flyweight to junior middleweight, and in 2015 fought in the highest-earning boxing pay- per-view in history against Floyd Mayweather Jr. of 2021.
Garcia, whose final record is 40-2 (30 KOs), emerged from the shadow of his brother/trainer Robert Garcia to make a name for himself and win titles from featherweight to junior welterweight, by the likes of Adrien Broner, Robert Easter Jr. and defeating Juan Manuel Lopez.
Pacquiao and Garcia will be on the ballot at the other first-time Men’s Modern Era (last fight no later than 1989) candidates Shawn Porter, a two-time welterweight titleholder and current DAZN commentator, as well as Lucian Bute, the Romanian-Canadian southpaw. who held the IBF super middleweight title from 2007 to 2012.
They will be joined on the ballot by other newcomers, including two-division champions Yessica Chavez of Mexico and Jessica Rakoczy of Canada in the women’s modern category, plus junior welterweight champion Bruno Arcari of Italy and junior flyweight champion of Venezuela in the “late era” era. timer category.
Shirley Tucker, who retired at 16-0 (10 KOs) after a career spanning 1977-1982, will be on the ballot in the women’s pioneer division, while British bare-knuckle boxer Owen Swift will be added to the pioneer division .
Other first-time ballot entries include trainer/cutman Russ Anber, referee Kenny Bayless and promoter Salvatore Cherchi in the non-participant division, plus broadcaster/former NY Boxing Commissioner Randy Gordon, Argentinian journalist Ernesto Cherquis Bialo and Kevin Iole in the observer division .
Ballots have been sent out to voters, with a press announcement scheduled for early December to announce the 2025 inductees.
