Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines speaks during a press conference after his defeat to Yordenis Ugas of Cuba in the WBA Welterweight Championship boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on August 21, 2021. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao was just coming off arguably the most convincing decision loss of his career but the fighting legislator said he is also dealing with another bout that’s tougher than anything he’s faced in the boxing ring.
Still reeling from his defeat to Yordenis Ugas in their WBA (Super) welterweight title clash, Pacquiao said that he is yet to make a decision whether to run for the Philippine presidency.
“I will make a final announcement next month,” said Pacquiao, who’s an active senator in the Philippines, during the post-fight interview in the ring Sunday (Manila time) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I know that I am facing a big problem that’s more difficult than boxing but I want to help people. I want to help them.”
Pacquiao, 42, has been mulling to run for president when he became a member of the Philippines’ upper house in 2016 and he was even named president of the PDP-Laban Party, the same organization that President Rodrigo Duterte is under.
Duterte and Pacquiao, however, had a falling out in recent months and the boxer was actually kicked out of his position from the party.
Pacquiao is also unsure about his boxing plans after the upset to Ugas, who won by unanimous decision.
The sport’s only eight-division titleholder, who was the WBA’s champion in recess prior to the Ugas bout, is in the twilight of his career and his defeat to the Cuban pugilist raised questions about his future in the ring.
“I don’t know, let me relax first and make a decision if I will go for another fight or not,” said Pacquiao.
Inactive for more than two years, Pacquiao was originally the WBA (Super) champion but the sanctioning body stripped him of his title due to inactivity.
Pacquiao, who won the title in July 2019 when he beat Keith Thurman, was supposed to take on Errol Spence Jr. for the IBF, WBC, and Ring Magazine championships but the Texas native pulled out of the fight due to a torn retina in his right eye that required surgery.