MANILA, Philippines ? ?People?s Champ? Manny Pacquiao expressed his gratitude to ?Sugar? Shane Mosley, who praised the 7-division world champion for trying to embark on a political career.
Pacquiao is busy campaigning in Sarangani Province where he is seeking a congressional seat.
?I’d like to congratulate him on the campaign,? Mosley told press representatives, including ABS-CBN North America News Bureau, during a media day workout.
?To even get that far and to be able to run for Congress is a great thing, a great accomplishment for a fighter, for all fighters. He’s doing a great thing. He has the spirit of a champion in and out of the ring,? added Mosley.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao reacted to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)?s disapproval of some of the endorsers of Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar.
Pacquiao, along with ?Comedy King? Dolphy and ?Wowowee? host Willie Revillame, were said to be womanizers.
The pound-for-pound king just brushed off the issue. ?Naiinggit lang sila at wala silang nage-endorse sa kanila na katulad namin, na taos pusong iniendorso kung sino ang karapat-dapat,? said Pacquiao. (They just jealous because they don?t have endorsers like us, who sincerely back the rightful candidates).
Just like Pacquiao, his opponent, Roy Chiongbian, is also making the rounds in the 7 towns of Sarangani Province.
?I just try my best. Any thing na ginagawa ko, I just try my best and then leave it to the Lord,? he said.
Chiongbian noted that the bout inside the boxing ring is different from the fight in the political arena.
Boxing vs politics
The outcome of the May 10 polls would affect the career of the world-renowned boxing icon.
Top Rank Promotions head honcho Bob Arum said that Pacquiao could fight in September if he loses in the elections or November if he prevails.
Meanwhile, his fight against Ghanian Joshua Clottey in March could possibly be his last if Dionisia ?Mommy D? Pacquiao does not change her mind.
According to Pacquiao, it was his mother?s wish for him to retire from the combat sport of boxing. ?Ayoko na talaga, mag-serbisyo na lang siya sa mga tao,? said Dionisa. (I don’t want him to fight anymore, he should just serve the people instead).
Pacquiao hinted at a possible retirement more than a week after successfully defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt against Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
He said he still hopes that his mother will change her mind but Mommy D maintained her stand that he should hang his gloves. ? With reports from Joseph Pimentel, ABS-CBN North America Bureau and Jay Dayupay, ABS-CBN News SOKSARGEN
