Boxing / News / Sports

Boxer Manny Pacquiao to run for Philippine president in 2022

Boxing star Manny Pacquiao says he will run for president of the Philippines next year after railing against corruption in government and what he calls President Rodrigo Duterte’s cosy relationship with China.

Pacquiao, currently a senator, was nominated on Sunday by his PDP-Laban party allies during the group’s national assembly, days after a rival faction nominated Duterte as its choice for vice president and his longtime aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, as the party’s presidential candidate.

Pacquiao, 42, presents a potential obstacle to Duterte’s succession plans as the race for the top post takes shape.

“I’m a fighter and will always be a fighter, inside and outside of the ring,” Pacquiao said at the event. “All my life, I haven’t backed down from any fight. Nothing is impossible if it’s ordained by God.”

Threat to Duterte

Pacquiao’s presidential bid is seen by analysts as a threat to Duterte’s candidate in 2022, as the boxer could split the vote in the southern island that both come from, opening the door for opposition figures.

Go declined the nomination, but the rift between the Pacquiao and Duterte factions has escalated. The senator ranked fifth among 15 possible presidential candidates in a June survey by PulseAsia.

Pacquiao’s faction has not expressed support for Duterte’s vice presidential bid. Duterte is prohibited by the constitution from running for a second six-year term as president.

The eight-division world boxing champion and beloved national hero made the announcement weeks after losing what could be his last professional fight against Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao was among the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2019, according to Forbes.

The Filipino boxer has been a senator since 2016 and also served as a congressman. He was once a loyal ally to Duterte, defending the president’s deadly drug war and death penalty push.

Recently, however, Pacquiao has criticised the administration for alleged corruption and its South China Sea stance amid a split in the governing party.

“We need progress, we need to win against poverty, we need government to serve our …

Boxing / Sports

Manny Pacquiao on Josh Taylor: ‘I have no problem to fight’ the undisputed champion from Scotland

The legendary Pacquiao returns to the ring against Yordenis Ugas with the WBA ‘super’ welterweight title at stake from 2am on Sunday morning. Taylor idolises the Filipino star, even naming his dog ‘Pacman’, and his breakthrough as undisputed super-lightweight champion has caught his hero’s attention.

When asked about the prospect of facing Taylor, Pacquiao said: “I have no problem to fight anybody, as long as it is 147lbs [at welterweight].

“As long as I am still in boxing, I can fight anybody.

“This is why I chose Errol Spence Jr [his original opponent who withdrew injured and was replaced by Ugas], because I want to fight the best.

“Anytime, I can fight anybody.”

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach previously said: “That fight can happen, for sure.”

Taylor, who is promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank, previously said: “How many people can say they shared a ring with their hero and beat them? Not many.

“He’s funny, he sings, he puts on a Scottish accent, he’s a people’s champion, a really nice person, he gives money to feed people.

“He’s an absolute gentleman and his fighting style is ferocious – a southpaw with fast hands who can fight like hell.”

Taylor is first expected to defend his titles in a homecoming fight in Scotland later this year against Jack Catterall.

Pacquiao, who famously knocked out Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas, he wants to fight in the UK.

“I hope that one day I could have a fight there,” he said.

He revealed that he “almost” finalized a deal to face Amir Khan, his former sparring partner.

“Fighting in the ring, inside the ring is different than training,” said Pacquiao. “Different than sparring or anything. Big difference.”…

Boxing / Sports

Errol Spence Is A ‘Basic Fighter,’ Pacquiao Can Win – Says Robert Garcia

Trainer Robert Garcia says he sees Errol Spence Jr as a “basic” fighter and that he wouldn’t be surprised if Pacquiao beats him when the two meet on August 21st.

Interestingly, Robert says Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) is the bigger puncher than Spence (27-0, 21 KOs). Robert isn’t the only one that believes that Pacquiao is the harder puncher.

What makes that hard to believe is the absence of knockouts for Pacquiao in the last twelve years. The last time Pacquiao scored a knockout was in 2009, and that was a questionable 12th round stoppage against Miguel Cotto.

The referee Kenny Bayless halted the fight while Cotto was still fighting back, and a lot of boxing fans felt that it shouldn’t have been stopped.

Robert’s little brother Mikey Garcia found out the hard way what it’s like to be on the receiving end of Spence’s shots when he lost a wide 12 round unanimous decision.

“He’s [Spence] a basic fighter, you know? He does everything correctly,” said Robert Garcia to Fight hype. “He’s not a flashy guy, he doesn’t look like some of those guys where you’re like ‘wow, did you see that?’

Even if Spence is basic, he picks the right spots to land his shots to score stoppages. It’s been a while, though, since Errol knocked anyone out, but it’s possible he’ll get a stoppage against Manny.

What makes Pacquiao’s shots look harder than they are is the speed with which he throws them.

Also, the punch placement and timing that Pacquiao has magnifies the impact. Who can forget the knockout shot Pacquiao hit Ricky Hatton with in the second round of their fight in

“I would probably say the power, probably go with Pacquiao. I probably go with Pacquiao,” said Robert Garcia.

It’s not the power; it’s more the blinding hand speed and the combinations that make Pacquiao so hard to deal with. If Spence can’t track all the incoming shots, he could get taken out by Manny.

If Spence starts throwing power shots …