MANILA, Philippines ? Seven-division world champion Manny Pacquiao assured his fans that he can still fight in blockbuster bouts even if he takes on a new role as congressman of Sarangani Province.
In an Agence France-Presse article, Pacquiao said: ?It just needs discipline. You just need time management.?
Pacquiao was proclaimed congressman-elect of Sarangani Province after scoring a landslide victory over Roy Chiongbian.
However, he said that boxing will have to take a back seat for the moment.
?For now, I will focus on service,? he declared.
?I am happy that I won and that people voted for me but it is also a great responsibility and so I must help my countrymen.?
The Ring Magazine pound-for-pound king said he plans to help his constituents by providing them with medical assistance, education and livelihood programs.
Fight for the country
Two sports analysts also believe that Pacquiao?s newfound job will not have much effect on his performance inside the boxing ring.
Bill Velasco and Boyet Sison, co-hosts of ANC?s ?Hardball,? both think that even as Pacquiao functions as representative of Sarangani Province, the boxer will remain focused once he starts training again for a possible fight in November.
Velasco, who is also a sports columnist for The Philippine Star, said the boxing superstar can designate some of his work to his men.
?In Congress you can delegate a lot,? he said.
Sison, for his part, believes that Pacquiao?s constituents can also understand the importance of their congressman?s fight in the boxing ring.
?His constituents understand that this fight is also important for them, not only for them but for the country as well. He will be able to concentrate for the fight then after that, win or lose, he is still congressman. He will still serve,? he stated.
Tougher competition
Velasco, meantime, is more concerned about the type of opponents Pacquiao has been facing lately.
?If you look at it, against [Miguel] Cotto, he was able to put him away but only at the end of the fight. [Joshua] Clottey, Clottey only hit him one-third [of the fight] but he got mugged,? said Velasco.
He pointed out that Pacquiao, the current World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, is having tougher and tougher competition.
?He?s beyond these Hispanic fighters, he?s entering into fights with black fighters,? said Velasco.
Floyd vs Manny
Sison also marveled at the money that could be generated by a Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight.
He thinks the issues on money and drug testing will have to be threshed out for a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout to become a reality.
?The money issue now for Mayweather is very, very important because of all the arrears he apparently had with the IRS [Internal Revenue Service]. Now with the big paycheck of this magnitude with Pacquiao, if Pacquiao agrees to a 14-day mandatory blood test, if that?s confirmed, I think the money involved here will really skyrocket off the roof,? said Sison.
Pacquiao clarified once more that the Mayweather bout is not yet final because his promoter, Top Rank, Inc. head honcho Bob Arum, is still negotiating with Team Mayweather.
The supposed March 13 mega fight did not push through because Pacquiao refused to give in to Mayweather?s demand for an Olympic-style random drug testing. – With a report from Agence France-Presse
