MANILA, Philippines — Who wants Manny Pacquiao in politics?
While politicians appeared to have succeeded in luring the Filipino boxing idol into the political arena, fight fans are burning Internet message boards to talk him out of it.
The dismay, if not outrage, is unmistakable in website’s like “boxingconfidential,” which has been closely following Pacquiao?s ring triumphs and his inexplicable venture into local politics.
“Boxing is a decent job and politics is a dirty thing — Pacman’s glory would end,” wrote one angry fan, commenting on an article about Pacquiao’s April ring date with Mexican boxer Jorge Solis.
He went on blaming Pacquiao’s handlers, saying they cared “only for themselves!”
Some fans appeared to have started rooting for the relatively unknown Solis, a featherweight who carries an unblemished 32-win record, 23 of them knockouts.
One comment predicted a Solis victory simply because Pacquiao, though widely considered as the best fighter in world regardless of weight class, would be distracted and too busy in the campaign trail.
“Pacquiao will not train hard, thinking that his opponent is a patsy,” one reader wrote. “He will be focused more on getting elected as mayor.”
At the forum of philboxing.com, one blogger suggested that Pacquiao fans come up with a petition which reads: “Manny, please don’t run for public office! The entire nation loves you for being our greatest boxer!”
The appeal was echoed by another blogger at filipinasoul.com, appealing that “somebody stop him and those who would try to convince him to throw his hat into the political ring.”
But the appeal was probably too late since Pacquiao, in the prime of his boxing career, has already announced that he was going into politics. Word was that he’s seeking the mayoral post in his General Santos City hometown.
The move wasn’t exactly surprising to some, considering that politicians had long been gravitating around the Filipino phenom since he achieved top-level boxing in the United States.
Boxingconfidential’s Michael Marley on Friday posted a highly sardonic article dressed up as Pacquiao’s speech to announce his mayoral bid.
The mock speech begins: “I do not ask what you can do for Mayor Manny. Rather, I ask what Mayor Manny can do for you.”
“As you know, I spend many of my waking hours drinking beer, San Miguel only if you please barkeep, and playing pool. One of my campaign promises is free beer all over Gen San on election day, but only until you vote,” Marley wrote, ostensibly drawing from Pacquiao’s widely reported extra-curricular activities outside the ring.
“As an inspiration to the youth of the city, I will travel far and wide after the election, giving our impressionable youngsters lessons in karaoke and in dropping the nine-ball in the side pocket,” the fictitious speech continued.
“I am sure that these skills will carry our treasured youth to great heights, maybe to a billiards career or a shot (at) the creepy American Idol program.”
At another website, haravata.com, one blogger notes that being a hero like Pacquiao “does not assure us of anything besides having a hero for a president or congressman or mayor.”
