Manny Pacquiao to run for Philippine presidency in 2022

Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino boxing star turned politician, would be running for the country’s presidential seat in 2022, according to Bob Arum, his former promoter.

The 41-year-old boxing legend, who was elected as a member of the house of representatives in 2009, currently serves as a senator in an office term expected to end in 2022.

According to the UK Sun, Arum recently disclosed Pacquiao’s Philippines presidential bid to Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council (WBC).

“The first president I think we’ll get as a fighter is little Manny Pacquiao, who told me, once again,” he was quoted to have said during a recent Zoom call with Sulaiman.

“I did a Zoom telephone call with him, ‘Bob, I’m gonna run in 2022 and, when I win, I want you there at my inauguration.’”

Ever since he stepped into the political arena in 2007, Pacquiao has been supported by his fellow citizens and fans. He is however yet to hang up his gloves for full-fledged politics.

The election to decide President Rodrigo Duterte’s successor has already been set for May 9, 2022.

In his boxing career, which has spanned 25 years across nine weight divisions, Pacquiao won 62 of his 71 fights, claiming the WBA welterweight world title during his fight against Keith Thurman.