Pacquiao to be declared 'champion for life,' says WBA president

Manny Pacquiao may have lost the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight "super" title to Yordenis Ugas last Sunday (Manila time), but he is set to get a new one soon.

On Tuesday, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza posted a snippet of his meeting with Pacquiao before his match against Ugas, where he said that Pacquiao will be a WBA "champion for life" as part of the celebration of WBA's 100th year.

"This is the 100th year of the WBA, centennial year. You're gonna be a 'champion for life,' Mendoza said. "I have a belt being made, it's gonna get processed, it comes with a resolution."

Pacquiao said afterwards he looks forward to seeing the belt in Manila.

Prior to this, Mendoza apologized to Pacquiao and said the former "was fooled" about something that MP Promotions Sean Gibbons said "will be settled in the ring."

"You did not need to say sorry, you were just doing your job," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao was stripped of his WBA welterweight super title in January this year due to inactivity. The title was eventually given to Ugas, who still holds the belt.

Mendoza also praised Pacquiao in the caption of his post.

"You inspire the world. A great human being, one of the best boxers that ever lived, a true warrior," Mendoza wrote.

Pacquiao on Sunday lost to Ugas via unanimous decision, 115-113, 116-112, 116-112. — LA, GMA News