What use is another world crown if our national crown is damaged?

“I prefer to be alive, so I'm cautious about taking risks.”

—Werner Herzog

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

DO we really need another world boxing crown? Why not if it will catapult the Philippines back to limelight?

But do we need to sacrifice a national crown for that additional world crown?

Of course not. Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) is the Philippines’ national crown, a sports treasure who has been inducted into boxing’s Hall of Fame on June 8, 2025.

It should have been enough. Being enshrined in the Hall of Fame is already worth more than another world crown at this stage of Pacquiao’s life.

But the story did not end there.

The 46-year-old former Philippine senator will climb back the ring to face 30-year-old Mario Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) for the 12-round WBC welterweight belt at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on July 19, 2025.

The former eight-division titlist from Saranggani province in Mindanao retired from prizefighting after losing to Yordenis Ugas (27-6, 12 KOs) by 12-round unanimous decision for WBA 147-lb crown on August 21, 2021.

 

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But the WBC and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) agreed to sanction Pacquiao’s comeback fight despite being inactive for four years and his age.

In contact sports, neurological, orthopedic, and ophthalmological injuries are common. While some are life threatening others has the potential to cause lifelong disability.

Boxers, in particular, sometimes die in the ring due to acute traumatic subdural hematoma (SDH).

Concern is hence raised for the health and wellbeing of these older athletes. Should an athlete above the age of 40 compete in professional boxing? How old is too old to fight in boxing?

Unless medical science is wrong, we won’t argue that Pacquiao is risking a potential injury in his duel with Barrios win or lose as it is generally acknowledged that participating in contact sports after the age of 40 carries increased risks compared to younger athletes due to several age-related physiological changes.

Here's a breakdown of the dangers, according to medial science:

-Increased Risk of Injury: Decreased Muscle Mass and Strength: Muscle mass and strength decline with age, making older athletes more susceptible to strains, tears, and other soft tissue injuries.

-Reduced Bone Density: Bone density decreases with age, increasing the risk of fractures.

-Drier Cartilage and Tendons: Cartilage and tendons become less elastic and hold less water with age, making them more prone to wear, tear, and rupture.

 

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-Less Elastic Ligaments: Ligaments become less flexible, increasing the likelihood of damage when overstretched.

-Slower Recovery: Studies have shown that recovery rates from injuries are slower for older athletes, meaning injuries can take longer to heal and have more significant long-term impacts.

-Pre-existing Conditions: Conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis can be exacerbated by the impact and stresses of contact sports, according to AARP.

-Balance Issues: A degraded sense of balance can increase the risk of falls and subsequent injuries, says Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance.

-Slower Reaction Time: This can affect an athlete's ability to make quick adjustments to avoid collisions and other injury-causing situations.

The specific injury risks are:

-Head Trauma and CTE: Repeated head impacts in contact sports are linked to an increased risk of long-term neurodegenerative diseases like Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), even in young athletes, according to a study published in JAMA Neurology. This risk likely persists or increases with age.

-Joint Problems: Contact sports can damage cartilage and lead to early arthritis, particularly in joints like the knees and ankles, according to 2aDays.

-Nerve Damage: Injuries such as "burners" or "stingers" are common in contact sports and can result in nerve damage, says 2aDays.

 

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Again, we will say it straight to the faces of those who did nothing, and say nothing when there’s opportunity to avert a potential disaster:  What use is another world crown if our national crown is damaged?

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)