Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao to run for president of the Philippines in 2022

09/19/2021 9:03 AM

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 09/19/2021 9:07 AM

Manny Pacquiao, current senator and legend of Philippine professional boxing,

will be a candidate for president in next year's elections

for a sector of the Philippine Democratic Party-People's Power, known as PDP-Laban.

The nomination was made in a virtual assembly that the faction led by senators Manny Pacquiao and Kiko Pimentel held this Sunday, and

the former champion has already declared that he accepts the nomination

, according to the digital newspaper Rappler, quoted by the Sputnik news agency.

Born in 1978,

Pacquiao is the only professional boxer to be crowned world champion in eight different weight classes

.

His political career includes several years in the House of Representatives and the Senate and, since last December, the presidency of a faction of the PDP-Laban, the same party in which the current president, Rodrigo Duterte, is a member.

Manny Pacquiao in his role as senator in the Philippines.

Photo: AFP

The rival PDP-Laban faction, led by Philippine Minister of Energy Alfonso, bet a few days ago on an alternative duo, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Tesoro Go and Duterte himself for the positions of president and vice president, respectively.

Pacquiao's presidential candidacy becomes a threat to the candidate promoted by Duterte

, since the boxer could split the votes on the southern island where both come from, opening the door to opposition figures.

Pacquiao was ranked fifth out of 15 possible presidential candidates in a June poll by PulseAsia.

"I am a fighter and I will always be a fighter, in and out of the ring. All my life, I have not backed down from any fight. Nothing is impossible if ordained by God," Pacquiao said at the video-broadcast event.

Many Pacquiao's wife, attentive to her husband's health after the fight with Yordenis Ugás.

The legendary Filipino boxer has been a senator since 2016 and also served as a congressman.

He became an ally of Duterte and defended the war on drugs and also supported the president's idea of ​​introducing the death penalty

.

However, in recent times he has faced the administration for alleged corruption and his position in the South China Sea, amid a split in the ruling party.

“We need progress, we need to win against poverty, we need government to serve our people with integrity, compassion and transparency.

We are fed up with the promises of change, "emphasized Pacquiao, who speculates his retirement as a professional boxer after the tough defeat against Cuban Yordenis Ugás last August.

The last show?

On his return to boxing after two years, the Filipino lost to Ugás by unanimous decision and was unable to regain the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title after 12 rounds at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, United States.

On the floor.

Pacquiao had a hard time with Yordenis Ugás in Las Vegas.

Photo: AFP

The Cuban prevailed with cards of 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112 in a fight for which he was designated as a rival at the last minute after Pacquiao's original rival, American Errol Spence Jr., dropped by injury.

Pacquiao, already with the project of running for the presidency of his country, had not fought since July 2019 when he won the WBA welterweight title on points over the American Keith Turman at the MGM in Las Vegas.

"I have done a lot for boxing and boxing has done a lot for me. I want to spend time with my family and think about my future," admitted the Filipino in statements reproduced by the AFP agency.

Heavy punishment for Pacquiao in the last fight.

Photo: AFP

However, days later, the former champion did not rule out a possible rematch.

He told The Athletic website that he might consider fighting Ugás again in January.

"Yes, I can come back in January. I'll see. I know I can face him if I want to. I'll just have to tell (promoter) Al Haymon. That would not be a problem," said the Filipino without noticing the harsh punishment he received in Las Vegas.

Look also

Manny Pacquiao and the brutal consequences left by the defeat against Yordenis Ugás

The solidity of Yordenis Ugás was stronger than the experience of Manny Pacquiao