Fans and political foes prepare for Pacquiao’s ‘sports and politics’ farewell boxing bout

Manila: Filipino fans and political foes are all preparing to watch the farewell bout of eight-time weight boxing champion (now Congressman) Manny Pacquiao with welterweight champion Timothy Bradley of the United States, in Las Vegas on Sunday — his victory could boost his right place in boxing and his bid for a senate seat in the May elections, analysts said.

“It is very important to win for my country and the people of the Philippines,” said Pacquiao, who did not discount the importance of “a win for my legacy in boxing”.

Citing one reason for his optimism to win in the ring, Pacquiao said, “My right shoulder is healed and that is good, because I can use it with real power.”

Although he has cautioned Filipino reporters who are covering his event to be less political but more sports-oriented, Pacquiao admitted that his victory in the ring in Las Vegas on Sunday could be easily translated into votes for his senatorial bid.

Pollsters said Pacquiao is now between seventh and eighth in ranking among candidates who are aiming to be among the 12 elected senators next month. The popularity of the Bible-reading boxer and politician dipped earlier after he likened homosexual partners as “worse than animals”.

He recovered his preference ratings after apologising on Twitter and said, “I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt. God Bless!”

The Commission on Elections ruled earlier that the worldwide TV coverage of Pacquiao’s boxing bout with Bradley would not create undue advantage over his political opponents. Comelec agreed with the argument of Pacquiao’s camp that he could not violate the country’s Fair Elections Act with a 12-round game done in several minutes.

Leaving the ring, Pacquiao said earlier, was a “necessary sacrifice” to become a good lawmaker.

Instead of congratulating him for additional political feather in his cap, Bradley crowned Pacquiao as “one of the world’s best boxers,” an accolade from an opponent ahead of the bout.

“I will vote for him, but I don’t believe he will retire,” said fan Amelia Gonzales, who is distributing free tickets to viewers in a small local government-sponsored viewing area in suburban Quezon City.

“I hope he wins. His heart is for the poor. He was once like us. He will not forget us,” said Benjamin Tan from southern suburban Cavite, who added that the boxing bout is “for all Filipinos, and also for Pacquiao’s victory in politics”.

Sources said that all politicians of all political parties are preparing to watch by groups and with respective allies the Pacquiao-Bradley bout.

“He is a political unifier. He is the pride of everyone. All Filipinos love boxing,” said Tan,

Pacquiao is running under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party of the opposition which is led by Vice-President Jejomar Binay, one of five presidential candidates in the May elections.

Earlier, he was invited by several political parties to join them because of his charisma and winning factor.

Pacquiao, 37, lost to Floyd Mayweather in a mega-fight that disappointed a lot of fans in 2015.

He lost a controversial split-decision in a bout with Bradley in 2012, but recovered with a unanimous decision in a bout against Bradley again in 2014.