Pacquiao Says Philippine Presidency Will Eventually Come, Focusing On Broner Fight

Manny Pacquiao is busy preparing for his upcoming fight against Adrien Broner on Jan. 20 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. And despite being a favorite to prevail over "The Problem," the Filipino boxing icon remains focused on that fight and not on politics.

Pacquiao, who is currently serving as one of the senators in his country, downplayed reports linking him to the Philippine presidency. He said that any future political plans have been put on hold as he is solely focused on his upcoming bout, Manila Bulletin Sports reported.

“A lot of people are saying that I can be the next President,” Pacquiao told AFP. “But I’m not thinking about that. I don’t have plans right now. Whatever path that God gives to me I will fulfill it.”

Pacquiao has been aggressively preparing for Broner and hardly had a break even during the holidays. He has been busy working with trainer Buboy Fernandez, doing pad work. He has also been training with future Hall of Famer Freddie Roach. Fernandez will be the voice in the corner of Pacquiao come fight night, Nick Giongco of MB Sports Online reported.

Despite being the underdog, Broner is unfazed. He claims that Pacquiao is beatable, singling out that knockout loss the boxing icon to Juan Manuel Marquez. He believes he can do the same.

“It’s proven that you don’t have to throw a lot of punches to beat Manny Pacquiao. You might only have to throw one and that mother f---- can go to sleep,” Broner said in a report from Fighthype.

Regardless of whether or not Pacquiao wins over Broner, it seems that the boxer-senator is not yet ready to call it a career. Many are eager to see if he and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will go at it once more, a rematch that has drawn divided interest.

Incidentally, both Mayweather and Pacquiao reunited recently at the Staples Center in Los Angeles as both watched an NBA game pitting the Los Angeles Clippers and the Charlotte Hornets. It was also NBA Filipino Heritage Night where Pacquiao threw giveaway shirts to the audience.

Assuming that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II happens and regardless of the results, the future Hall of Famer could finally decide to hang up his gloves and focus on his political career. As for whether or not the Philippine presidency is included in those plans remains to be seen.