Olympic gold may not be Manny’s destiny

NOT TO say Manny Pacquiao is not hot about doing the honors for the Philippines, but there’s only a very slim chance the Filipino international boxing superstar would fight in the Olympics.

Upon learning of the invitation for him to fight in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Pacquiao yelled in glee from the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood where he was training for his bout against Timothy Bradley last April.

“For the Olympics!” Pacquiao was reported to have cried, while raising his sweaty arms. He would later tease onlookers and say: “Gold: For the Philippines.”

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Sorry, but so far nothing close to exciting has again come from Pacquiao regarding the Olympics; he immediately headed home to jump onto the political campaign trail after having disposed of Bradley.

It should not be said that Pacquiao has been holding back on his Olympic plans until after the May 9 national polls.

Pacquiao, in fact, has soared prodigiously in the latest poll preference survey following the heart-warming win over Bradley, and has thus been heavily favored to land in the Top 5 of the senatorial race.

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It’s like this. Pacquiao has woken up to the gripping reality that he could better serve his people and country as a working senator.

In that swing in San Pablo City last week, where Pacquiao was described as a political heavyweight by an international news agency, Pacquiao stepped down and confessed to having been bitten irretrievably by the political bug.

Maybe he was moved by the monumental adulation from the surging hysterical crowds. Pacquiao, overwhelmed, solemnly announced there and then he would be into his new passion—work hard to serve—as wholly dedicated as when he started boxing in his early teens.

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There’ll be no turning back.

There so far has been no deadline for Pacquiao to say yes or no to the Olympic boxing competitions, where the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has offered to take him in as a special wild card entry.

The national governing body, Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines, announced it has reserved a slot for Pacquiao in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

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Will Pacquiao agree to fight for the country in the Olympics?

The answer should be forthcoming, but there’s a silent popular feel that Pacquiao, the way he had allowed himself to be swept off his feet by the lure of being able to do noble public service, would stay retired and do his best to be a successful senator.
It’s too early to say if he would go all the way and offer to seek the Presidency later.

But if there’s one thing that could call him back from official retirement, it should be the chance to avenge his comprehensive loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year, even as the Olympics cannot wait indefinitely.