MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao issued a call for clean and honest elections next year even as he shelved his political plans for the 2010 polls to concentrate on his upcoming fight with British champion Ricky Hatton.
In a move that caught everybody by surprise, Pacquiao decided not to read a prepared statement distributed to the media in a press conference in Makati yesterday where the Filipino boxing sensation was supposed to officially declare his intention to run for a congressional seat in the province of Saranggani.
After a brief talk with his election adviser Atty. Romy Macalintal, Pacquiao delivered his message calling for an honest and clean elections next year.
?I am here to call on my fellow Filipinos to help ensure a clean and orderly elections next year,? said Pacquiao in Filipino.
He, however, stressed he is not endorsing a particular candidate at this stage.
Pacquiao also called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to do its job and prevent cheating in the 2010 polls.
In a chat with reporters, Pacquiao said he is concentrating on his coming fight against Hatton and not the 2010 elections.
But he did give hint at running for a congressional seat in Saranggani.
?I spent years of my life in that province. I have a house there and my wife is from there,? said Pacquiao in Filipino.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao said trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. couldn?t simply overhaul Hatton?s style for their forthcoming showdown.
?I don?t believe that he can change Hatton,? Pacquiao was quoted as saying yesterday as the world?s pound-for-pound champion reacted to Mayweather?s pronouncement that Hatton will be an entirely different fighter when they square off on May 2 in Las Vegas.
?Maybe they can work and add up on his stamina but his style will be the same,? added Pacquiao, all set to leave for a two-day promotional tour in Manchester and London. He will then fly to Los Angeles to start his nine-week training under Freddie Roach for his keenly-awaited showdown with Hatton.
Pacquiao said that in his recent fights against boxers from different weight classes with varying styles, he did some adjustments but he never changed his style. It?s always been the shock-and-awe and take-you-down strategy that the Pinoy superstar has relied on.
?I know that I can learn some new things,? he said.
?But I also know that I cannot do it overnight. So I think Mayweather will have a very difficult time to change Hatton?s style. I think it?s the same old Hatton whom I will face in the ring. He will use the same style against me,? Pacquiao said. ? With report from Abac Cordero
