HERE’S a stern warning to those milking Manny Pacquiao dry of his hard-earned winnings.
Pacquiao revealed his intention of going back to school to pursue an ambition to be a lawyer, a day after conceding defeat in the congressional race for the first district of South Cotabato.
?Mag-aaral ako pagbalik ko dito. Nirerespeto ko ang desisyon ng eleksyon pero hindi ako titigil para makatulong sa mga kababayan natin,? said Pacquiao, who sounded relaxed when contacted by BusinessMirror.
Pacquiao plans to leave on May 28 together with his family to get a much-needed vacation in the United States.
The explosive southpaw boxer will be honored as the 2007 Fighter of the Year in the upcoming 82nd annual Boxing Writers Association of America awards ceremony on June 8 at the Copacabana in New York.
The 28-year-old Pacquiao disclosed his plans of taking up Political Science in preparation for his bold aspiration, although he said he still doesn?t know which school to enroll in. He said if he doesn?t enroll in time for the incoming school year, he would do so the next year.
?Kukuha ako ng law. Dapat pag-aralan ko lalo ang batas,? was the curt reply of Pacquiao when asked about his objective.
Pacquiao has had countless legal battles here and in the United States, and lost considerable amount of money with previous managers, promoters and agents on one-sided, ludicrous deals.
The boxing superstar, who bowed to incumbent South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, got his high-school diploma after passing the accreditation and equivalency test given by the Department of Education (DepEd) in February.
As soon as the diploma was handed over to him in a press conference at the DepEd office earlier this year, Pacquiao, who looked like he was in a playful mood, said he would enter college at the Ateneo de Manila.
The other day, Pacquiao came out with a statement saying that he respects the decision of the people to choose Custodio over him as their voice in Congress.
Part of that statement was his request to his lady conqueror to provide the needed services for their constituents.
The ?Legal Battle?
YESTERDAY, BusinessMirror learned that World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Juan ?The Baby Bull? Diaz is now being considered as Pacquiao?s next foe.
Curiously, the 23-year-old Diaz is currently taking up a prelaw course at the University of Houston.
Diaz?s promoter Don King reportedly held talks with Pacquiao?s backer Bob Arum last weekend.
Both Arum and King were at the FedEx Forum in Memphis last weekend to witness the world middleweight title defense of Jermain Taylor against Cory Spinks.
Other foes for Pacquiao being considered by Arum are three-division world champion Marco Antonio Barrera, WBA super-featherweight ruler Edwin Valero of Venezuela, World Boxing Organization 130-lb kingpin Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic, and Top Rank Inc. fighter Humberto Soto of Mexico.
Arum told BusinessMirror he will sit down with Pacquiao as soon as the Filipino fighter arrives in the United States to chart their next move.
Arum added that Guzman is eager to make the fight.
Meanwhile, Arum disclosed they won?t participate in the purse bid mandated by the World Boxing Council (WBC) for Pacquiao?s mandatory title shot against current champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico.
He said Pacquiao will be getting less that what Marquez will receive as champion under the purse bid set-up.
Arum reiterated that Pacquiao is the top draw of the division and deserves to get more money than the Mexican fighter, who dethroned Barrera as WBC ruler last month.
