BACOOR, Cavite — Manny Pacquiao swears boxing is the last thing on his mind right now as the campaign season for the May presidential elections is nearing the halfway mark.
Touring key cities in this vote-rich province on Saturday, Pacquiao told Daily Tribune that he is so immersed in politics and engrossed in the campaign that he no longer gets the chance to even work out.
“No, I don’t miss boxing,” Pacquiao said.
If Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division champion doesn’t miss the fight game, what sport does he wants to play these days amid the hectic schedule?
“What I miss most is playing basketball,” Pacquiao said as he clenched his fists and squeezed his bulging biceps to show that he badly misses sweating it out.
Almost seven months since his farewell fight, a 12-round decision loss to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas, Pacquiao, 43, admits he hasn’t gotten the opportunity to even do light exercises. “No time to exercise,” he said.
And since Pacquiao has been touring and visiting provinces most of the time, his weight has ballooned a bit.
Even his wife Jinkee has taken notice of the extra baggage that his husband has gained the past few months.
“Yes, I already told him about it and I told him it shows (in the tummy area),” Jinkee, a constant companion in the sorties, said.
Asked what he weighs these days, Pacquiao said, “about 154, 155 lbs.”
Perfect for Antonio Margarito?
Pacquiao let out a laugh.
“No. No more boxing for me,” he said.
Pacquiao knows the biggest fight is taking place in less than two months.
