Tougher fight awaits Pacman

Source: Manila Bulletin
DALLAS, Texas (AFP) – His latest victory over Joshua Clottey now in the books, Manny Pacquiao faces a much tougher fight in the political ring.

The 31-year-old Filipino who dominated Clottey Saturday is hoping to make the transition from boxer to politician when he begins campaigning next month for a congressional seat in the Philippine national election.

If elected on May 10, he would preside over a poverty-stricken province of Saranggani on the southern island of Mindanao.

Upon his return to the country, Pacquiao will be given a hero's welcome by Malacañang as well as the Nacionalista Party (NP) headed by presidential candidate Senator Manny Villar.

Pacquiao is considered the greatest pound-for-pound boxer in the world but he has his work cut out for him in the political theatre. He ran for Congress in 2007 but failed to get elected.

“I am going to take a one week rest and go back to the Philippines and start campaigning for my political career,” Pacquiao said Saturday after beating Clottey by a unanimous 12-round decision at Cowboys Stadium.

“I want to help the people especially in my place.”

Ask when he would fight again, Pacquiao said, “I don’t know. I am going to decide that after the elections.”

Pacquiao’s win over Clottey, combined with a Mayweather defeat of Shane Mosley on May 1 would set the stage for negotiations to resume for a Pacquiao-Mayweather mega bout.

A Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is one of the most anticipated ever and could be the biggest payday in boxing history with conservative estimates of $35 million for each fighter.

Talks for the fight fell through when Mayweather insisted on Olympic style drug testing which Pacquiao refused to accept.

The Texas group that regulated Saturday's first ever boxing card at Cowboys Stadium said there would be no steroid testing before or after the Clottey fight.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum said Saturday that Mayweather should leave the question of drug testing up to the state commission where the fight is being held.

“Drug testing is not for a fighter to use in negotiating,” Arum said. “We believe Mayweather raised that issue to duck fighting Manny Pacquiao and if we are wrong then let him sign a regular contract.”

Villar said Pacquiao, being a congressional candidate of NP in Saranggani, deserves a hero's welcome for his successful defense of his welterweight division title in Arlington ,Texas.

Villar, who managed to convince Pacquiao to join NP, said the party would definitely throw a big welcome party for Pacquiao. He said details about their planned hero's welcome are still being discussed.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin, subalit bibigyan namin sya ng isang malaking pagsalubong. Hindi namin alam kung sasabay na kami sa marami o bibigyan namin s’ya ng separate,” Villar said. (“I don't know yet what to do, but definitely we will give him a big welcome. We don't know if we will join in simultaneous welcome or we will give a separate welcome for him.”)

Presidential Deputy Spokesman Gary Olivar said amid his political affiliation, Pacquiao deserved a hero’s welcome following his remarkable feat placing again the Philippines in the international radar screen.

He said though the government is tied up with the country’s internal affairs, the preparations for the hero’s welcome are underway.

NP senatorial bet Sen Pia Cayetano said Manny Pacquiao is a winner through and through. Excellence is achieved through hard work over time. His victory cannot be diminished by a non-performing opponent, Cayetano said in a press statement. (With reports from Rolly T. Carandang and Charissa M. Luci)