Manny Pacquiao To Run For Philippine Presidency In 2022, Says Bob Arum

Manny Pacquiao has his sights set for the Philippine Presidency in 2022, bared Bob Arum. A former long-time promoter of the Filipino legend, Arum says Pacquiao expects him to be present in the inauguration should the fighting senator claim the country’s highest seat of power in the next elections.

“The first president I think we’ll get as a fighter is little Manny Pacquiao, who told me, once again,” the Top Rank promotions founder told WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman , via the Sun. “I did a Zoom telephone call with him (Pacquiao) and he said, ‘Bob, I’m gonna run in 2022. And when I win, I want you there at my inauguration.’”

Pacquaio has gained enough experience in Philippine politics as he has been serving the country as a lawmaker for 10 years now. He assumed office as a congressman during his first six years as an elected official and is currently in his fourth year in the Senate. Now, boxing’s only eight-division champion is said to be aiming for the supreme position of leadership in his country.

Despite this, there is still no clear indication as to when Pacquaio plans to hang his gloves up. Currently, he remains active and in shape while continually being linked to various names for his next potential fight.

The latest buzz across the fighting world has the Pacman attached to a possible welterweight showdown against Terence Crawford. Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach, meanwhile, revealed that a fight against middleweight great Gennady Golovkin is also being considered.

“Manny might want to go a little bit higher and fight GGG or one of those guys who’s supposed to be the best. I would not advise him to go to 160 pounds, no. That would be a little crazy. But putting him at 147 was a risk at one time … and it worked out really good for us,” Roach said in an interview, via the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A fight against the Kazakh legend, even at a catchweight, is being scrutinized as a dangerous move for Pacquiao, who is obviously way past his prime. That said, the much-awaited face off against the undefeated Crawford might be at a better position of actually taking place when the smoke has cleared from the Coronavirus crisis.

Pacquiao is coming off an impressive split decision victory against Keith Thurman in July. Crawford, meanwhile, earned his 27^th KO win after stopping Lithuanian Egidijus Kavaliauskas in the ninth round of their fight in December as he remained unscathed in 36 professional bouts.