While the voting is not yet finalized, all signs out of the Philippines are pointing to a landslide victory for Manny Pacquiao in his congressional election bid!
Pacquiao during today’s election Manny Pacquiao called his recent political quest to be elected to the lone congressional seat in Sarangani province, Philippines the fight of his life? and while he emerged victorious in today?s voting in the same dominating fashion he uses to dispatch opposing boxers in the ring, the gruelling political campaign might not even be his biggest fight this year. Early indications have Pacquiao winning in a landslide victory over political rival Roy Chiongbian and the Filipino pound-for-pound king is now resting after a torrid couple of months on the campaign trail. While his break is well deserved, all signs point to a quick return to the negotiating table with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an attempt to sign one of the biggest fights in boxing history.
While reports surfaced today indicating talks with Mayweather would resume as early as this week, Team Pacquiao maintains the newly elected Congressman will continue with some well deserved down time and that the champ has had no time to reevaluate his next move in boxing.
Top Rank?s Bob Arum (Pacquiao?s boxing promoter), who is currently at the champ?s side in the Philippines, has stated that the bout with Mayweather is still their top priority ? and that when talks resume ? they hope to approach the negotiations with a clean slate.
Arum has set a target date of November 13 for Pacquiao to return to the ring and everyone in the world (including Team Pacquiao) hopes that it will be against Mayweather.
That may be easier said than done as the politics involved in making the fight appear just as complex (if not more so) than running for an actual congressional seat.
Pacquiao and Mayweather were knee deep in negotiations last December when the proposed mega-bout fell apart over a disagreement pertaining to drug testing. In the meantime both fighters (in between a few choice words for one another) have maintained the fight is still at the top of their respective wish lists.
In the meantime Pacquiao will soon be back at work taking on the heavy responsibility of helping his people in the political arena. It?s another hat he?s donning in addition to those of fighter, actor, singer, father and husband.
The world?s most famous boxer might also be it?s hardest working man? and he wouldn?t have it any other way.
