Pacquiao focusing on May 13 polls

SARANGANI Rep. Manny Pacquiao will don his boxing gears again once the local elections are over.

“I’ll focus on boxing in June,” Pacquiao said Monday night during the 13th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Awards at Sofitel Hotel, where he was the guest of honor.

Though Pacquiao is seeking reelection unopposed on May 13, the eight-division world champion will be busy campaigning for his wife Jinkee, who is running for vice governor, and younger brother Roel, who is running for congressman of South Cotabato.

Shrugging off the devastating sixth-round knockout he suffered against Juan Manuel Marquez last Dec. 8, Pacquiao reiterated his intention to fight again in September, regardless of whomever Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum will choose to pit against him.

Marquez and Timothy Bradley, who also beat Pacquiao via a dubious split decision last June, head the list of Pacquiao’s probable opponents in September.