(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
At the end of his illustrious boxing career, which will be concluded after his next two fights, Manny Pacquiao will step away from the ring and become a full time politician.
Here comes the disclaimer: Obviously growing up in Britain and now living in Pittsburgh, I know very little about the intricate workings of Filipino politics. But what I do know is that Manny Pacquiao is an inspiration to an entire nation when he fights, partly due to his humble nature and generosity, and partly due to his ferocity and tenacity in the ring.
So much so that the rebels and government troops stop fighting during one of his fights, and Filipino people the world over stop what they are doing and watch. The crime rate in Manila also drops to almost zero during the fight, which is something that no other sportsman today is capable of in any other city.
The question then is whether a nation who loves Many for his boxing will want him as a politician instead?
After all, no matter how good a politician is, they inevitably alienate some of the people that they are representing through their policies. Manny might find that he doesn't like being no longer be universally liked if he does get elected and makes some unpopular decisions.
There have been calls from various groups of Pacquiao's fans not to vote for Manny, perhaps in the hope that he will continue to box if he isn't successful in his political aspirations. Some have also criticized his political maneuvering, although I don't have the background knowledge myself to comment on that aspect. Whether he will continue to fight if not elected is something that Manny alone probably knows at this stage, although his family are also calling for him to retire.
At only 30, Manny is fairly young for a boxer on top of the world to retire. Shane Mosley for example is 38 and said today that he expects to box for another three or four years at least. Manny is an old 30 though, having already racked up a total of 55 fights, many of which he took a lot of punishment in. Rather than declining after all his wars like so many other fighters tend to though, Manny looks unstoppable right now, and gave perhaps one of the best performances of his career in flattening Miguel Cotto in his last fight. So the decision is purely based on whether he still wants to fight, rather then still being able.
Before the voting takes place, hopefully Manny will make it clear that he is retiring whether he is elected or not, to ensure that fans who want to see him fight again aren't tempted to vote against him purely for that reason. The lure of the ring has tempted many boxers back after even lengthy retirements in the past, and will do so in the future as well, in most cases to their detriment either in health or legacy. Manny also seems to love the lifestyle of training and learning in the gym rather than relaxing in his mansion.
Comments
He wants to fight if elected, and it is not illegal in Philippines for his intended position.
If he loses, he will need to recover all the lost cash (a lot !), so he will fight. Maybe try again later after he really retires.
fighting after being elected is a conflict of interest. mayweather is next. i hope to see pacman to give the jr his 1st defeat to shut him up.
Still like to see manny for maybe another 2 to 3 fights.
Surely boxing needs him now than Beautiful Boy Floyd. Maybe, a fight with the Beatiful Floyd, then an eigth division title against Chavez Jr. that is if Jr wins against Yuri, and lastly a farewell fight in the Araneta Colesium(manila) against JMM at 147lbs just to close the debate, shut JMMs mouth and let him drink all his pee!
we all knOw that manny has all the gOOd intentiOns fOr whatever it is,even if its in bOxing Or pOlitics.. whatever the pacman dOes in the future? i will always be a PAC-fan.. gOD bless yOu manny, and dOn't fOrget tO drink yOur milk first... ;)
Being from the same place where Manny came from, I wish that he would get elected for a change. Manny is sincere to serve the people having experienced hardships and poverty himself. He can bring in the needed investments and livelihood to the locality-capitalizing on his popularity and charisma. Manny has brought tremendous honors to the country. It's time for his countrymen- his fans to reward him their trust.
If you are a real fan of Manny Pacquiao, you will support him in his political endeavors. It is such a small thing to do compared to the thrills, excitement and pride that he gave us all these years. You should only know one thing -- and that is Manny Pacquiao, despite his lack of education or political sophistication, as claimed by his critics, is still the better public servant compared to the Chiongban dynasty, which has held the province in its grip for decades. Poverty, lack of economic opportunities, malnutrition, corruption and murder -- these are the Chiongban's legacy. Manny is Sarangani's last hope!
im a filipino, no i dont want him to enter politics because i know for the fact that manny himself is kind hearted and really just wants to help people however people around him the so called "trapos" will just use his popularity and money.we all know filipinoes how politics works in our country right?let me give you an example 57 died last monday because of our philippine politics,btw im a real fan of manny pacquiao that is why i dont want him to enter politics,
YES! it is time for manny's people to give something back to him...to those people who wants him to fight more, why dont you guys fight instead, fking losers
it's not that we the fans want him to to run for office or not.
is he capable to lead? will he be effective without the help of advisers (i'm sure he will brilliant advisers). is this good for philippine politics? my honest assessment is that he end up being a traditional poilitician but with the help of highly educated advisers. manny only finished gradeschool. will he be easily swayed to do bad decissions for his constituency (if he wins). yes he will and that's not good. besides, anyone oppsing his policies will eat him alive in congress, boxing's best p4p or not.
i am a real fan of pacquiao....let him have what he wants dudes
Pacman should fight Shane Mosley to clean out the welterweight and Yuri Foreman for the 8th division title, then retire. Don't listen to the media, forget this monkey boy floyd (MBF). MBF don't have a belt and has ducked top welterweights, like Cotto, Mosley and Margarito. In his return from retirement, MBF duck top welterweights again and the Pacman and instead fought an aging blown up lightweight in Marquez. MBF has no credibility exept his loud dirty mouth like his uneducated father. If a Pacman/MBF fight happens, it should be a winner takes all to prevent MBF from quiting in the early rounds otherwise this monkey boy floyd will run all the way to the gate with his $millions depriving spectators and viewers the pleasure of watching the Pacman rearrange MBF ugly face and cracking and dislocating his ribs and shoulder.
REGARDLESS WHAT MANNY DECIDES WE SHOULD JUST SUPPORT HIM.
tsk tsk tsk...arroyo is not good for philippine politics, and she went to harvard...even entertainers enter politics why not pacquiao..
i respect and admire him for his deeds and willingness to help his people. He is an excellent sportsman, but politics will only be a heartache for him.
his heart maybe into it but the heart and will of his fans and the people is with him and his boxing exploits only, most of them.
We really do not know why he should force himself to the idea of
helping people through way of being elected where he could help so much more even if he is only an ordinary citizen.
I guess an ample air is already in his head that the idea of being a President someday is in his option or will now.
Manny has nothing left to prove in boxing. He has already proven he is the best in boxing. He is already considered amongst the best to ever lace up. His name is mentioned along side Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, etc.
No matter what you do Pacman, we got your back. You have given so much to the sport of boxing and to your fellow Pinoys. You never forgot where you came from and that's what we love about you! Mabuhay!
I hope he wont be like the Ampatuans who acts like they own Maguindanao. This guy Andal Ampatuan Sr. is always on Mannys fight in Vegas. Google him and you'll see who he is.
Manny's real success started with the Barrera fight in 2002 and he was about 22 then. At age 22, he had been what he was growing up, that is, uneducated, and having a mind of the typical Filipino. A typical Filipino has seen all over that education alone is not a guarantee of success. Many degree holders are still unemployed. What is embedded in a typical Filipino's mind, according to what he was exposed to, is that when a person wants to be popular he/she must get into the movies. And if that persons hurdles the task and excels in that field, the ultimate step is to go into politics. Once that is accomplished, one can now say he is on top of the ambition level and can now vie for the presidency of the land. This is typical Filipino mind. And this is what Pacquiao, despite his accomplishments in the sport of boxing, is molded to accomplish. First, to be an actor which he is doing now, and now with his fame, he is now going into politics. personally unaware of the consequences.
Reply to Guest: Yes, that is Manny's company now, the Ampatuans, not to mention Chavit Singson, too. Ampatuan is now under arrest and investigation in the massacre of 58 people a couple of weeks ago which includes 18 journalists, a record journalist killing in the world in one incident. Imagine blocking a convoy of about 8 vehicles and mowing down ALL of the occupants???
I say, the Ampatuans, is Manny's company now just in assumption, since the Ampatuans are solid backs of the current administration of Arroyo, and Manny is under Arroyo's umbrella.
After Manny win 1 or 2 more fights....i think we should give Manny his Break of Boxing, if thats what he wants. Besides, Manny has given us the ENTERTAINMENT of Boxing THE BEST it can GET. NOBODY can PERFORM and ENTERTAIN Better than The GREAT and LEGENDARY Manny Pacquiao if we talk about BOXING, and he has given that to us in his ERA. Lets not wait until SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN to HIM and he cant enjoy his HARDWORK in that DANGEROUS RING. 1-3 fights..that should be enough and we can ELECT HIM TO OFFICE ;-)
pacquiao = wife cheater = disloyal = liar = bad politition = buwaahaahaaha
If Pacquiao doesn't heed the call of the majority of his fans not to enter into the dirty world politics, he'll surely heading into the downfall of his career in boxing.
Manny you can't mixed politics and boxing, you have to choice either one of them, if you choose politics over boxing, you need to retire now and preserve your unblemish status as boxing P4P.
Remember when you choose to run as congressman in 2007, but still you opted to continue fighting the likes of George Solis,Barrera and JMM, eventhough you won that fights but evidently your performance was subpar compared to your previous fights.
Maybe you need one more bad beating from your political foe just like what Cong.Darlene Custudio had done to you last 2007, until you come to your senses and awake the reality that you're not really meant for politics (at least this time).
You should concentrate more on boxing because on the horizon there's an arrogant bad-mouth floyd waiting for you, this guy is no pushover.
Manny Pacquiao has done so much for the Filipino people. What he has accomplished in the boxing ring gave so much pride and joy not only for him but also to his countrymen. In return we would support him whatever path he would like to make, be it in the political arena or not. By Supporting him directly and indirectly is the only way for us to say THANK YOU MANNY PACQUIAO FOR MAKING US PROUD AS A FILIPINO. Just like our national hero BENIGNO "NINOY" AQUINO SAID, "THE FILIPINOS ARE WORTH DYING FOR".
win or los he should go back to boxing. boxing is his best tool to give honor and joy to his countrymen. And, boxing is his best way to earn money. get all you can and share it to the less fortunate, you know how to be poor.....get it all manny
a big NO to pacquiao as politician
my boy manny, fight yuri you will have nothing to lost. get the crown and have the history. winning or losing you are still the welterweight king, let them chase you and let mr. arum do the job, just stay humble polite gentleman as you are, again whatever happen at yuri fight floyd will still chase you for the money and he still believe that with his size you are really too small for him.....
Look guys i know HOW ADDICTING MANNY PACQUIAO FEVER IS WHEN HE FIGHTS!!!!!....but loook Manny is not getting YOUNGER. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT WHEN OUR BOXING HERO END UP LIKE ALI, ROACH, Z GORRES, and other boxers WHO DIED FROM BRAIN TRAUMA?... Manny vs Mayweather is already SET FOR May 1,2010. After that LETS RESPECT and SUPPORT MANNYS DECISIONS.
wrong we all ready think pacquiaos a cherrypicker and if he moves up to face yuri instead of williams it'l only prove it williams is the man up there right now you can't fool the boxing fans.......mayweather/mosley would do better PPV numbers than pacquiao/cotto because mosleys more of an attraction then cotto....and everyone knows mayweather did better numbers with 3 common pacquiao opponents....if somebody don't need somebody it's mayweather don't need pacquiao.....all this talk of pacquiao avoiding mayweathers got me thinking your all a lil scared....pacquiao shouldn't get 60%...why would 50% of the mayweather fans want to give pacquiao an extra 10% of thier hard earned cash? we couldn't give a #@$% who pacquiao beat were paying to see our bot think about that....you can have your wife cheater, dishonest, liar of a polition after and not before mayweather exposses him for what he realy is #2 lol
Manny should learn from Jaworski
Im glad Manny plans to enter politics. At least, if Manny emerged triumphant with his second bid, his district is assured of a true bloodied politician whose intention really is to serve the interest and welfare of of our people. Our country badly needs incorruptible politicians like Manny. Who do you prefer to lead you? These callous corrupt people or Manny who came from the ranks of ordinary people, is humble and prayerful?
FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR IS A CHERRY PICKER. PACQUIAO IS THE REAL DEAL THOUGH.....I GIVE IT UP TO PACQUIAO! IF MAYWEATHER JR FIGHTS PACQUIAO, PACQUIAO WILL K.O MAYWEATHER JR.
WHAT MANNY THINKS AND WANT IN HIS LIFE LET US GIVE HIM HIS CHOICES.THEIRS MANY WAYS IN HELPING.IF THIS IS THE CALL OF HIS DUTY ABOVE.... MANNY WE SUPPORT YOU. IT'S ONLY YOU WHO KNOWS WHATS THE BEST. JUST REMEMBER I AM A PROUD FILIPINO FOR WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO OUR COUNTRY. GO!GO!GO!GO!GO! MABUHAY KA MANNY!
I am not against Manny entering into politics. One advice though. Politics is an entirely different arena. Thus, Manny should be really sensitive of his people's sentiments. He should try to learn from his past mistake. We can all recall, that in his first attempt last 2007, he committed a big blunder by running under the ticket of the unpopular administration and he lost.
why are you so concerned usa? i don't think you have to worry too much scott these people would support a murdering tyrant manny pacquiao bassed on thier comments
Who are we to decide for him?If that's what he wants,so obey it!He has done enough for the filipino people.He put US back in the map.Although, Philippine politics is not like any other politics!!??so i hope he can handle the pressure.
Politics is vastly different from boxing.
I like Pacquiao as a boxer, the people's champ and P4P king the "greatest of all time"... but i don't like him as politician or an actor, brad pete or bentot act better than him.
i became a boxing just because of manny paquiao.and i am pround to be a filipino born just because of him. if i only have the power to stop manny in entering the politics i will do so because politics is a dirty business, any famous person who enter the philippine politics ends up in nothing but garbage. Look at jaworsky a philippine basketball legend before he enters the politics everybody loves him including me , but since he enters the politics if you mention his name people just laught at him because he did nothing in politics he just look like a clown because he dont know nothing.There are many more that i will not mention the name all i can say is that if manny enters politics , magkakaroon lang ng taong magagalit sa kanya ( if he enters politics he is just going to create an enemy ) so i hope he will chage his mind leave the dirty bisiness. we love u manny.
I rather see him dodging Floyd's stiff Jabs,instead of bullets.
Manny announced a few months back that he will continue to box if elected thus prompting some to say that he will be the first fighting congressman.
Manny thinks his popularity as a boxer will catapult him to be elected. We will see if the people have learned anything from electing to office the likes of Estrada and Lapid who were both uneducated just like him.
I say a big NO to Manny entering politics.
Why not? We are in a democratic society and if Manny wants to go back boxing he can. To enter politlcs, he can serve more the people of Saranggani and their voice in Congress be heard more so from the poor as Manny came from them. Good luck and God bless you alwaya.
MANNY pls. listen to your loyal fans, I earnestly urge you to stay away from dirty world of politics.
In Politics there's no permanent friend or enemy, only permanent selfish interest. Your friend of today will be your enemy of tomorrow, don't tarnish your good image.
Don't add an army of misfits in Congress, most of them are backbenchers, doing nothing except yawning and snoring in the house floor,waiting for their pork barrel to come.
I want you to once and for all silence the stinky loud-mouth of arrogant fraud gayrunner, however this guy is no pushover, he is the most cunning and clever boxer i've ever seen, you need to concentrate on him 100% be it physical,mental and psychological.
To all qualified voters of Sarangani, Philippines. If the majority of the Filipinos gave Estrada a chance to become a president before, Why not give Manny a chance to become a congressman next year. It will be another honor for the Philippines to have the first fighting solon in the world . Please show your gratitude to Manny to make it happen and you'll find out you are doing to yourself and to your country a favor.
for manny to do politics is not a wise discision you know politics is very dirty things especially in the philippines most politiican are become bad even your a good person coz the cronies are thier they are the one who makes you bad and make corruption so be careful mr. p4p your the best but i think if go for politics your not .. pinoy
People like jerry ayos who wants packy to enter politics are so darn stupid
For those people who dont support Manny this coming election, they are not fully awake of what is happening now.. they really dont have any idea.. They just keep on supporting those useless people! for Manny: run as Independent, no Party! u will see who really supports u! from administration to opposition to other independent candidates! be a like NOLI! i know for sure NOLI will run as President Independently.
Hey Mr. Scott the fight between Manny and Floyd is early May or May 1! he can retire for good before elections!
Manny for Congressman! "for total change"
While its not too late, he better run for a SENATOR instead of just a congressman. Cogressmen are the MOST corrupt politicians in the Philippines. Surely, contituents in that congressinal district won't vote for Manny, since they don't want him to be lined up with corrupt politicians. Senators are MORE honorable than congressmen. Chances are high if he run for senator since most Filipinos will be given a chance to vote for him, ME included. As congressman, no way will I vote for him. Anyway I'm not from Sarangani!
Who told you that if manny wins he'll bring honor to his country? are you serious?
TO PERRY,Don't you know being a congressman is not an easy task, as a congressman you need to legislate bill to become law, in other words you are a legislator of laws not a mere spectator IT INVOLVES DELIBERATIONS AND DEBATES and this is a delicate and tedious work of being a member of HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
lOOK at Estrada now, he's a disgrace to Filipino people, instead of serving his people, he abused them and he was convicted of plunder and falsification of documents by the sandiganbayan, only to be pardoned by another corrupt and idiot gloria.
Estrada doesn't bring honor to our country, instead he brought horror to his people. The problem with some Filipino they still don't learned the lesson of history, wherein they still choose popularity and fame over quality, they tend to prefer showbiz personalities over qualified candidates many times again and again.
manny for president...of mindanao
Chongbians with long hictory in politics dominating all government projects in sarraggani,had racked up tens of billions of pesos that would dwarf pacquiao hard earned billions. If Dirty antonino clans with their filthy money was avle to knock out pacquiao in the last election, hell, chongbians with fully charge well oiled corruption earned money will make a double whammy knock out on Pacquiao... with media already on the take from the chongbians goodwill envelope diplomacy they are already on the verocious attack on Pacquaio's lifestyle... Pacquiao is still novice he doesnt know politics & media in the philippines are so corrupt... he thought the money he gave to media after his fight is enough to build his image. Hell NO!!! he'll just lose his hundred millions for nothing.
Reply to Junicks: We are only trying to protect Manny from the pitfalls of being a politician. Many, if not all, who went in with good intentions ended being a trapo. Examples are Binay who used to be champion of the poor now he is the champion of the richest, and many other actors. They are now the target of criticisms and hate. I don't wish this for Manny, who until now is still respected and loved.
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