ARLINGTON ? In boxing, distractions typically come from government’s judicial branch, not its legislative.
The likes of assault, breach of contract, possession, DUI and bankruptcy litter the sentences spoken and written about the sport.
Now along comes Manny Pacquiao, whose training staff has bemoaned the time he’s spent politicking along the post-election trail.
When Pacquiao last fought at Cowboys Stadium in March, he was merely a boxing phenom. When he enters the same ring Saturday night, announcer Michael Buffer is almost sure to introduce Pacquiao as a “seven-time world champion and congressman representing the Philippine province of Sarangani.”
The “seven-time” is open for debate among boxing aficionados who question the validity of a couple of the titles, if not his skill in the ring. “Congressman” is not. In May, Pacquiao won election in a landslide, defeating a heavily favored candidate described by AOL as a member of “an entrenched billionaire clan.”
Not that Pacquiao, 31, is a poor man. He could earn more than $15 million for Saturday’s fight against Antonio Margarito. But big paydays are a relatively new phenomenon for him. And it’s not Kennedy wealth or Bush family money or the dynastic dollars that were at the disposal of Roy Chiongbian.
According to The Philippine Star , the losing candidate is “gatekeeper of the vast Chiongbian business empire involved in shipping, real estate, agri-business and others.” His mother is a former governor of the province. His father was a congressman. His brother was the congressman Pacquiao replaced.
By contrast, Pacquiao’s is a rags-to-riches story. It’s pure Hollywood, told lovingly by CBS’ 60 Minutes five days ago without a hint of the show’s signature ferocity and skepticism.
Boxing made Pacquiao an international star and a Philippine icon. Rich people’s billions can be no match for a people’s champion, provided he runs a serious, smart campaign that is well-funded and guided by political professionals.
