Pacquiao's toughest fight is in the political ring

Posted at 03/14/2010 4:50 PM | Updated as of 03/14/2010 4:50 PM

DALLAS - His latest victory over Joshua Clottey now in the books, Manny Pacquiao faces a much tougher fight in the political ring.

The 31-year-old Filipino who dominated Clottey Saturday is hoping to make the transition from boxer to politician when he begins campaigning next month for a congressional seat in the Philippine national election.

If elected on May 10, he would preside over a poverty-stricken province of Saranggani on the southern island of Mindanao.

Pacquiao is considered the greatest pound-for-pound boxer in the world but he has his work cut out for him in the political theatre. He ran for Congress in 2007 but failed to get elected.

"I am going to take a one week rest and go back to the Philippines and start campaigning for my political career," Pacquiao said Saturday after beating Clottey by a unanimous 12-round decision at Cowboys Stadium. "I want to help the people especially in my place."

Ask when he would fight again, Pacquiao said, "I don't know. I am going to decide that after the elections."

Pacquiao was so confident of beating Clottey that he scheduled a post-fight party across the street at the Texas Rangers ballpark where he planned to sing and entertain hundreds of guests.

Wearing dark glasses to hide the swelling around his eyes from absorbing hundreds of punches over 12 rounds, Pacquiao told reporters at a post-fight news conference that he plans to open the show with his own version of the Mexican folk song La Bamba.

Pacquiao's win over Clottey, combined with a Mayweather defeat of Shane Mosley on May 1 would set the stage for negotiations to resume for a Pacquiao-Mayweather mega bout.

A Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is one of the most anticipated ever and could be the biggest payday in boxing history with conservative estimates of 35 million dollars for each fighter.

Talks for the fight fell through when Mayweather insisted on Olympic style drug testing which Pacquiao refused to accept.

The Texas group that regulated Saturday's first ever boxing card at Cowboys Stadium said there would be no steroid testing before or after the Clottey fight.

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said Saturday that Mayweather should leave the question of drug testing up to the state commission where the fight is being held.

"Drug testing is not for a fighter to use in negotiating," Arum said. "We believe Mayweather raised that issue to duck fighting Manny Pacquiao and if we are wrong then let him sign a regular contract."


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6 comments

Masisira lang siya sa politika

5

I prayed that you win against Clottey. Now I'm praying you lose in the political arena. Sorry, but your destiny is boxing not politics. Masisira ka lang so pulitika.

*** Ang pagsilbi sa bayan ay hindi dapat katamaran. Bayan dapat ang inuuna. Kalimutan muna ang pag-endorso sa kaibigan o pagbili ng mamahaling sasakyan. Nangako ka sa bayan. Tuparin mo. ***

a person is judged by the company he keeps

Manny you are the best boxer, no doubt. However I have every reason to believe that your politics is no different than the people keeping you company. In boxing you excelled because you tried to learn from your fight experience but in politics, it seems you did not learn anything from your previous foray. This misadventure will forever blot your otherwise exemplary performance as an athlete.


MATALO SANA!!!!!!!!!!!

MABUHAY!!!!!! Mannny kasi nanalo ka sa boxing gusto ko/natin mga pilipino iyon for the country.......pero sana matalo ka sa pulitika....maayos ka na sa boxing pinasok mo pa ang mundo ng mga MAGNANAKAW!!!!

homeboyfromoxnardcalifornia

Mabuhay ang Pambansang

5

Mabuhay ang Pambansang Kamao!

@jokjok, umiral na naman ang KATANGAHAN mo. Sports ito hindi politika. Dun ka sa mga articles involving politics magkalat ng KATANGAHAN at KABOBOHAN mo!

*** Ang pagsilbi sa bayan ay hindi dapat katamaran. Bayan dapat ang inuuna. Kalimutan muna ang pag-endorso sa kaibigan o pagbili ng mamahaling sasakyan. Nangako ka sa bayan. Tuparin mo. ***

MABUHAY!!!!!

MABUHAY KA MANNY SALUDO KAMI SAYO, KAHIT D NA KNOCK OUT SI CLOTTY, PERO YONG ISANG MONEY VILIAR ITO AY DAPAT MA KNOCKOUT.. HORRY!!!!


on lupang hinirang

bakit ba itong NHI ay wala na lang inaatupag kundi ang mag comment sa mga singers na kumakanta ng ating pambansang awit tuwing me laban si Pacquiao? Wala na ba kayong ibang magawa para mapansin ng tao? Sana sa susunod na laban ni Manny ay sila na lang ang kumanta, para matigil na sila... pero kaya ba nilang pantayan si Arnel o Martin?

elelpi


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