Boxer and Sarangani Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao has begun to set his sites outside the ring as focuses more and more on the political arena.
Already a congressman in the Philippines, the southpaw has launched a campaign for a spot on the 24-seat Senate in Manila with general elections scheduled for the late-spring of 2016.
“I mean if you ask me I don’t have that in my mind [running for President of the Philippines]. What is in my mind right now is to focus on my job as a congressman and the next election is for next year so I’m planning for running for higher office in the senate — that’s got there, my mind,” the 36-year-old Filipino said when asked about a presidential bid on Monday (October 12).
Though a seat on the senate is natural springboard to the higher office or president or vice-president.
“A lot of people are masquerading as righteous, that’s what I learned in politics. A lot of politicians are masquerading as righteous people, especially in times of election there’s a lot like that,” said Pacquiao about political world.
“What I learned in politics is that it’s simple: 24 hours, seven days a week you have to, you know what I mean, [make yourself] available your body to help people. And, what I learned in politics is just always forgive your enemy,” he added.
Before switching full time into politics, however, Pacquiao said he still has one more fight left in him after over 20 years of boxing.
With his shoulder healing properly following surgery to repair an injury suffered in training and exacerbated in his megabout loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr last May, Pacquiao is setting his sight on a return to the ring in March.
“My shoulder is 80-90 percent healed and I believe I can start training on November or December, so I can fight early next year,” he said.
Pacquiao’s long-term manager Bob Arum said last month he expected Pacquiao to fight again in February, with Briton Amir Khan and American Terence Crawford among the possible opponents with a rematch against Mayweather unlikely after he announced plans to retire after beating Andre Berto in September to improve his record to 49 wins and no losses.
“It’s not final yet that he’s my next opponent, but Amir Khan, we’re friends, but although we’re friends but when, I think, when we’re doing our job in the ring, I mean, there is no friend. I mean, you know what I mean, nothing’s personal, just doing your job and that’s our sport. That’s our sport. We allow each other to hit each other, also,” joked Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, who boasts a fight record of 57 wins, six losses and two draws, was in New York to receive the the Asia Society’s Asia Game Changer of the Year Award. He will receive the honor at a reception at the United Nations on Tuesday. (Reuters)
