The Wall Street Journal Southeast Asia edition today ran a story pondering the political fate of Manny Pacquiao, one that might include a run for President in the Philippines in 2022. Of course, that’s not “new” news, as that has been the oft-stated potential course of action for Pacquiao following his time in the squared circle.
A pound for pound champion in the ring, Pacquiao is still a novice in the political world. In his first attempt to win a seat, he lost a 2007 election badly to a popular incumbent before winning his bid in his second effort in 2010.
In 2013, Pacquiao will be running for governor in the Sarangani province, a step forward from his current congressional position.
Here’s a quick glimpse of the article and some of the speculation it offers:
So it was hardly a surprise that fans and a few boxing experts guessed he was thinking of bigger things in the political ring, and ultimately Pacquiao for President in 2022, the year when he will be eligible to run for the country’s highest office.
Not too bad for a political candidate to get a 10 year head start on his campaign, and the buzz around his next move.
Also in the article, Dong Secuya of Philboxing.com stated:
“Pacquiao is a made man… and will run for an executive position in the next election. He has reached a point where he has outgrown boxing itself and he can just leave the sport at any time.”
You can read the full article online here.
Of course, as of now, all of this is complete speculation and guesswork. The more pressing concerns for boxing fans is whether or not we’ll ever see Pacquiao in the ring against one Floyd Mayweather. But if and when that happens, Pacquiao will still be a young man, and will still want to make a difference in his home country, where he’s a beloved hero.
Pacquiao for President in 2022? Maybe, but I’d prefer to focus on what matters for boxing today – Pacquiao vs. Mayweather for Pound for Pound Supremacy.
