While Manny Pacquiao has been selling his April 9 bout against Timothy Bradley as his last fight, his political mentors know that Pacquiao will continue fighting to remain popular as part of his long-term political plan.
Assuming Pacquiao is elected senator on May 9, he won’t be participating in any local or national election until after his six-year term as senator expires in 2022. In six years, Pacquiao will only be 43 years old and if he he decides to seek a higher office ? assuming he is elected senator on May 9 ? he needs to continue fighting to maintain his popularity. Pacquiao has admitted on several instances that he may seek a higher office in 2022 when the next presidential elections takes place. By then he will be 43 years old and would be eligible to file his candidacy for either the vice-presidency or the presidency. In his 21-year pro career, Pacquiao’s popularity has been soaring every time he fights ? be it a title or non-title bout ? regardless of the outcome of the fight. Pacquiao is easy to sell which is the reason why his promoter Bob Arum continues to give him $20 million guaranteed fee even if Pacquiao faces an unpopular opponent. Pacquiao is not a boring fighter to watch. In the ring, he excites and entertains his fans and supporters which is another reason why he remains a top pay-per-view (PPV) attraction. For Arum, a Pacquiao fight is practically a risk-free business as Pacquiao’s PPV buys have not gone below 660,000 since his fight against Oscar de la Hoya in 2008 (which drew 1,250,000 buys), except his twin fights in Macau, China which made less than 500,000 buys. With fans’ continuing support and with Arum’s willingness to guarantee Pacquiao’s purse at no less than $20 million per fight, there’s no reason why Pacquiao won’t show up in the ring once or twice a year until 2021 when he files his next Certificate of Candidacy. By 2021, Pacquiao would be 41, or three years younger than former foe Shane Mosley, who is fighting at 44 this year. Another ex-foe, Juan Manuel Marquez, who will turn 43 in August this year, is likewise set to return to the ring this year. By comparison, Pacquiao will be the youngest among the three to stay active at past 40 if he decides to continue fighting. Mosley, who is coming off two straight wins since losing to Anthony Mundine in 2013, has hired legendary boxer Roberto Duran as his new trainer in preparation for his next fight. “Mosley insists he is far from finished and says he will continue boxing for the foreseeable future. Still harbouring ideas of getting return matches with superstars Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto and the ?retired? Floyd Mayweather Junior, Mosley seems to be hoping for the impossible. But Mosley insists he is not fighting for money, only for glory. The former king and certain Hall of Famer of the future is not at all interested in what his critics have to say,” James Slater of Boxing News writes. For his part, Marquez is exploring a fight against Miguel Cotto but he said a tune-up fight is necessary because of his long layoff due to knee injury. Marquez is bent on securing a fight against Cotto because he believes the fight would be win-win situation for the two of them. He also said they will have to agree on the weight because there is a big disparity in their natural weight. Pacquiao. who has fought both Marquez and Mosley, has reiterated his plan to retire after his April 9 fight but few believe he will, even if he wins in the May 9 senatorial contest.
