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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Manny Pacquiao for president? Freddie Roach has this insight

Manny Pacquiao for president? Freddie Roach has this insight

Published Feb 17, 2021 07:14 pm

Should Sen. Manny Pacquiao run for the presidency next year, his long-time trainer coach Freddie Roach would love to be part of that moment.

Roach fueled talks anew surrounding Pacquiao's future in politics and said the boxer-turned-senator might run for president of the Philippines soon.

That is at least for the veteran trainer after sliding the comments when asked about the much-hyped fight between Pacquiao and undefeated American youngster Ryan Garcia, who holds the interim WBC lightweight champion.

Read: Ryan Garcia confirms fight with Manny Pacquiao

" thing is you know, Manny's 42 now and it might be a good time to catch him (Garcia) you know. But the thing is, Manny hasn't been active either. And he's trying to save his country right now and he's gonna -- he'll be running for president pretty soon," the 60-year-old Roach recently told Fight Hub TV.

"And that's a good thing though because I think that he wants to be the first world champion as president also. But I would love to see it and I would love to be part of it. I just hope I got a call too," added Roach with a chuckle.

Last year, it was Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who expressed support for Pacquiao with the possibility to run for the country's highest political seat.

Roach, likewise, has been supportive of Pacquiao's political endeavor and bared that the eight-division world champion plans to retire from boxing after two or more fights before focusing on politics, per boxingscene.com.

Read: Freddie Roach: Manny needs to be careful and smart vs young Garcia

Pacquiao has since then denied these claims, per local reports, stating that he and Arum only talked about possible fights and shifting the focus to helping the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Pacquiao had replaced former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III as chief of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) last year, relegating the latter as vice chairman of the ruling political party since 2016. No less than President Duterte is the chairperson of PDP-Laban.

Read: Pacman ready to fight

Boxing-wise, Pacquiao has not fought since scoring a split decision win against American boxer Keith Thurman in July 2019. 

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