By Sal V

Manny Pacquiao wins election for seat in congress.  Many athletes have entered politics in the past.  Kevin Johnson formally of the Suns and Cavs is now the mayor of Sacramento for example.  Never have we seen an athlete while still at the top of game throw his hat in the political arena until now.

Manny Pacquiao is indeed a champion of the people but not just in the boxing sense.  He hopes to make everyday lives of his countrymen better.  Winning a political battle was not very different from winning a fight in the ring.  He went up against the billionaire Chiongbian family that has been ruling the area for nearly 30 years….that is until

 they faced the likes of Manny Pacquiao.

Arum told Ronnie Nathanielsz of Philboxing “winning this election for me, and certainly for Manny, is the greater thrill than any fight. It reminded me completely of the Oscar De La Hoya fight when everybody before the fight said it is a mismatch and De La Hoya is going to kill him. And it was a mismatch but it was a mismatch the other way because Manny destroyed De La Hoya.”

Pacquiao “can’t beat this guy (Chiongbian), the family has been in control for 25 years. It’s a real mismatch and Manny was going to lose the election by a landslide. They were right, it was a landslide but the other way. Just like the De La Hoya fight.”

Pacquiao ran for office in 2007 but was defeated by the Antonionino-Custodio clan of South Cotabato.  This time, he poured more of his own personal fortune into the campaign and ran for congress further south in Sarangani, the birthplace of his wife Jinkee.

What does this mean for Pacquiao vs Mayweather Jr?  While most politicians take a recess to campaign and fundraise in their home districts, Manny Pacquiao may choose to instead to make his campaign inside the ring.
 
 

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