EIGHT-DIVISION world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has his plans laid out for next year after the May 9 national elections.
The congressman from Saranggani is running for senator in 2016 under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and if he wins, which is likely, he will retire from boxing.
Unlike in congress, The senate is a full-time job and the Pacman said it will require him to give up his boxing career because this also requires much time and long hours of training.
Before the elections, the Pacman and his promoter Bob Arum have scheduled a fight, although they still have to pick an opponent.
It could be Pacman’s former sparmate Briton Amir Khan and a host of others from Arum’ list.
Very recently, two days ago to be exact, the name of Floyd Mayweather appeared in this list.
According to online reports, a rematch is not at all impossible, although Mayweather has announced that his last fight was the final bout of his career.
No one can tell for sure if a rematch between Pacquiao and Mayweather is possible. But then again, no one ever thought that a match between the two could actually take place. And then May 2 happened.
Reports have it that a fifth fight with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez is also being considered.
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As of now, Arum still doesn’t have an opponent or a venue for what could be Manny’s last fight. Only a date: April 9.
Will Manny spend the next few months preparing for his senatorial bid or will he go full time preparing for his swan song in the ring?
While the boxing icon is ready to hang up his gloves in lieu of a higher political office, Pacquiao said in an interview the other day that he is not ready to give up basketball yet. He doesn’t have to, he said.
“I can still coach and play. I have assistants who will help me with my work. The interview came on the heels of Pacquiao’s very first field goal conversion which he accomplished during the game against Rain or Shine.
Like a little boy, Pacquiao could not contain his joy and excitement.
He said he has his own court in his GenSan home, not to mention lots of basketball memorabilia.
In contrast, he doesn’t have a boxing ring or even boxing mementos.
Is the Pacman trying to say that he loves basketball more than boxing?