Can Manny Pacquiao Become The First Boxer To Become President?

By James Slater - 03/19/2021 - Comments

Manny Pacquiao for President? For some time now, the enormously popular and respected Fighting Senator has spoken about his goal of becoming president of the Philippines, and now, according to a news story from ABS-CBN’s cable news channel ANC, 42-year-old Pacquiao is likely to make a run for the presidency in 2022. According to Manny’s seatmate, fellow Filipino senator Panfilo Lacson, Pacquiao has approached him and has spoken to him a number of times with regards to his plans to run for president in 2022.

“Two or three times, he approached me and sat beside me and he said, ‘Perhaps we can talk.’ Because he has plans, and perhaps he can be aided especially on the budget, stuff like that,” Lacson said of Pacquiao. “He said it and he’s quite open about [running for president]. Although he does not want to talk about it because of COVID. In fairness to him, he is consistent that we should prioritize COVID, not politics at the moment.”

It really would be the most amazing accomplishment, the most amazing story, if Manny, born into a life of extreme poverty, was able to make it all the way to the presidency. Perhaps this immense achievement would even dwarf all of Pacquiao’s vast accomplishments in the ring. Politics seem to be Manny’s real love these days, even if he is still looking at taking one, maybe two more fights before hanging up his gloves. It goes without saying that the enormous task of running for president will take up all of Pac Man’s time and energy. If he is to have one, maybe two more fights before signing off on one of the greatest and most inspirational boxing careers of all time, then Manny hasn’t got too long to get the fights done.

In this regard, it could be Mikey Garcia next, with a possible massive fight with Terence Crawford after that. But the amazing 42-year-old has nothing left to prove as far as his greatness as a fighter goes, Pacquiao has pretty much done it all. It might be that the goal of becoming the first boxer in history to become president is what truly motivates Pacquiao now. Senator Pacquiao has already made his mark on the political world; being elected as a congressman in 2010, re-elected in 2013 and then, in 2016, being elected as a senator. But the powers of the presidency, and with it the ability to really do what he most loves doing, helping his people, is what Manny has in his sights now.

Can Pacquiao do it, can he become president of the Philippines? It seems this mighty task, one that would not even have been a dream for the young Manny Pacquiao, is within reach. What a life Pacquiao has lived; fighting his way out of poverty, travelling to America to achieve greatness as a multi-weight world boxing champion, inspiring many millions of people all over the world. But the biggest accomplishment may be still to come. We must appreciate and celebrate Pacquiao the prizefighter during whatever time the southpaw dynamo has left as one. We sure will miss Manny when he’s left the sport. A bigger, more important arena needs him full-time.