Manny Pacquiao wants to have a National Bible Day in the Philippines.
Senator and boxing champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao gestures during a Senate committee hearing on Justice and Human Rights and on Extra Judicial Killing at Senate headquarters in Pasay city, metro Manila, Philippines on Oct. 3, 2016. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

KEY POINTS

  • Manny Pacquiao says he has plans of running for president in the Philippines
  • The Philippines will be holding presidential elections in 2022
  • Pacquiao is boxing's only eight-division world champion 

Manny Pacquiao is the sport of boxing’s only eight-division world champion. Soon, he could become the first boxer to become president.

According to a news report from ABS-CBN, one of the Philippines’ biggest news outlets, Pacquiao--who is currently a senator--has expressed his intentions to run for the Philippine presidency in 2022.

According to his seatmate and fellow Philippine senator Panfilo Lacson, Pacquiao has approached him multiple times to discuss his plans.

“ Two or three times, he approached me and sat beside me and he said, 'Perhaps we can talk.' Because he has plans, and perhaps he can be aided especially on the budget, stuff like that,” Lacson told Headstart, a program on ABS-CBN’s cable news channel ANC.

“He said it and he's quite open about [running for president]. Although he does not want to talk about it because of COVID. In fairness to him, he is consistent that we should prioritize COVID, not politics at the moment,” Lacson continued.

Senatorial candidate of the opposition party and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao greets supporters during his party's proclamation rally in Manila on February 9, 2016.
Manny Pacquiao is a boxer and Philippines Senator. TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images

Pacquiao has successfully used his popularity in boxing as a springboard into a political career.

READ ALSO: Once Upon A Time: Manny Pacquiao Tore Through Four Weight Divisions In 14 Months

In 2010, Pacquiao was elected as a congressman, representing the province of Sarangani. He would be re-elected in 2013. Three years later, Pacquiao was seated as a senator after garnering over 16 million votes.

As for his boxing career, the 42-year old Pacquiao is still one of the most sought-after opponents today.

In 2019, Pacquiao showed that even at his age, he could still hang with the best, beating Adrien Broner in January and then Keith Thurman in July to become the unified WBA welterweight champion.

Pacquiao did not see action during the whole of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the WBA to relegate him to the status of "Champion in Recess" this past January.

Last February, Pacquiao announced on social media that he was back in training camp and would be making a big announcement soon.

The following month, Pacquiao revealed that he was targeting a return to action in May, with Terence Crawford or Mikey Garcia as possible opponents.

Pacquiao has a boxing record of 62 wins, seven losses, and two draws.

Coronavirus Boxing