Eight-division world boxing champion. Basketball league owner. Senator. President?
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum revealed that Manny Pacquiao has plans to run for president of the Philippines in the upcoming 2022 elections.
Arum, who was Pacquiao’s former promoter before the athlete moved to Paradigm Sports Management (PSM) last year, claimed that the current senator told him this via a Zoom meeting.
“I did a Zoom telephone call with him and he said, ‘Bob, I’m gonna run in 2022. And when I win, I want you there at my inauguration.’”
Pacquiao went on record a year ago to say he does not plan to run for president in 2022. Instead, he declared that he wants to form his own political party.
At 41 years old, Pacquiao has yet to retire from boxing, even eyeing a bout this year. He last fought back on July 20, 2019, defeating Keith Thurman via split decision to win the WBA welterweight title.
Arum even told WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman that Pacquiao will win that election and become the first boxer to ever lead a nation.
“The first president I think we’ll get as a fighter is little Manny Pacquiao.”
Arum is targeting a bout between Pacquiao and Top Rank boxer Terrence Crawford in a unification bout.
