Manny Pacquiao stripped of WBA world title, declared 'champion in recess' due to inactivity

The World Boxing Association (WBA) has declared Manny Pacquiao a Champion in Recess, stripping him of his Super Champion belt due to inactivity.

Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas meanwhile was promoted to Welterweight Super Champion.

"Pacquiao won the Super Champion belt in July 2019 when he defeated American Keith Thurman, however, he has not defended the belt since then," the WBA said in its website.

"Rule C.22-24 states that when a champion is unable to defend the belt for medical, legal or other reasons beyond his control, he may be named champion in recess," it added.

Ugas took to Twitter to express his delight over the news, and said he was willing to have a match against Pacquiao should he be up for it.

, behind your history, hijack a championship. This gives fans a chance to see a great unification fight at 147lbs. I don't want this position for easy fights. My team has my consent for my next fight to fight Pacquiao if he wants to show who he is the true WBA champion or another

— Yordenis Ugas (@YordenisUgas) January 29, 2021

"Thanks to the WBA for raising me to Super Champion and doing what is best for Sport. Manny Pacquiao is a legend and he will always be champion, his intention was Mggregor and now Ryan, but you cannot, behind your history, hijack a championship," he said.

"I don't want this position for easy fights. My team has my consent for my next fight to fight Pacquiao if he wants to show who he is the true WBA champion or another of the champions for a great unification fight," he added.

Similarly, the WBA designated heavyweight boxer Mahmoud Charr as champion in recess after 38 months without defending the world title.

It also withdrew its recognition of the cruiserweight champion Beibut Shumenov after the Kazakhstani boxer failed to fight due to health reasons.

Recently, there had been talks about Pacquiao going against WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia and former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor.

Pacquiao's camp however denied the information about the showdown with Garcia.

Meanwhile, McGregor suffered a second-round technical knockout loss at the hands of ex-UFC interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier. It was a huge blow to what seemed like a close to a done deal between the pair as Team Pacquiao is exploring their options now. —JCB, GMA News