A two-year break from boxing has left Philippine legend Manny&nbsp;Pacquiao&nbsp;"hungry" to get back in the&nbsp;ring&nbsp;for what could be the last fight of his storied career -- and a warm-up for a presidential rumble.

The eight-division world champion and beloved national hero will have tens of millions of fans from the boxing-mad archipelago in his corner when he faces American Errol Spence in Las Vegas on August 21.

Pacquiao's comeback fight is a chance to prove his mettle at 42 -- an age when most boxers have already hung up their gloves -- and score a lucrative payday before a widely expected tilt at the presidency next year.&nbsp;

"I'm a politician, all politicians are dreaming for the higher position," the elected senator told AFP in his southern hometown of General Santos, where he is training.&nbsp;

"I'm going to announce (my decision) in the proper time, maybe after the fight."&nbsp;

Pacquiao's star power in a country famed for its celebrity-obsessed politics would put him in a strong position in the presidential race.&nbsp;

But it would not guarantee victory.

A public skirmish between&nbsp;Pacquiao&nbsp;and&nbsp;President&nbsp;Rodrigo Duterte over the latter's handling of the South China Sea dispute with Beijing and official graft could erode support for the boxer.

Duterte -- who is allowed to serve only one term as&nbsp;president&nbsp;-- rivals&nbsp;Pacquiao&nbsp;for the affections of many Filipinos and has even flagged a possible run for the vice presidency in 2022.&nbsp;

Until recently,&nbsp;Pacquiao&nbsp;was a high-profile backer of Duterte and his controversial drug war, which International Criminal Court prosecutors want to investigate for the alleged unlawful killing of possibly tens of thousands of people.

Pacquiao&nbsp;told AFP he would continue the crackdown, but in a "proper way" that does not abuse "the rights of individuals".

Asked if he would protect the current&nbsp;president&nbsp;from criminal charges if he became leader, he said: "All of us are bound to the law."

Pacquiao&nbsp;would face a formidable opponent if Duterte's daughter, Sara, were to run for the&nbsp;top&nbsp;job.

A recent poll showed the Davao city mayor -- the same position her father held before he took power in 2016 -- with the most voter support, well ahead of&nbsp;Pacquiao&nbsp;and other potential contenders.&nbsp;

But a lot can change between now and the October deadline for candidates to register.

"Right now my expectation is that (Pacquiao) runs, but not as Duterte's chosen successor," said Eurasia Group analyst Peter Mumford.

"But it's the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;so it's very unpredictable."

Decisions on whether to retire after the Spence fight or run for the highest office are in God's hands, according to&nbsp;Pacquiao, a father of five.

Religion looms large in the life of the boxer, who became a devout evangelical Christian about a decade ago after giving up his playboy lifestyle.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-calls-report-of-china-building-more-than-100-nuclear-missile-silos-concerning-395234">Also Read |&nbsp;US calls report of China building more than 100 nuclear missile silos 'concerning'</a>

He even relies on his faith -- and vitamin C -- to ward off Covid-19 while he considers getting vaccinated against the deadly disease.&nbsp;

"I always keep in trusting God because he's the one who give me the ability to accomplish all those things," he said.

'Idol of everyone'&nbsp;

Pacquiao&nbsp;is deeply admired in the&nbsp;Philippines&nbsp;for his generosity and hauling himself out of poverty to become one of the world's greatest and wealthiest boxers.

Dozens of locals wait outside his gym in downtown General Santos in the hope of catching a glimpse of the rags-to-riches hero -- and receiving some money -- before he climbs into an olive green Hummer to drive back to his manicured compound.

"Pacquiao&nbsp;is the idol of everyone in this city," said Meme Dipundato, a 40-year-old tricycle driver.&nbsp;

"What I really like about&nbsp;Pacquiao&nbsp;is not his boxing but his act of helping the poor."

But the fighter has stirred controversy since entering politics in 2010 -- first as a congressman and then a more high-profile position in the Senate -- supporting the death penalty and describing gay couples as "worse than animals".

He promises to pull no punches if he were to become&nbsp;president&nbsp;-- starting with sending "hundreds or thousands" of crooked politicians to a purpose-built "mega prison".

"There are so many problems in this country caused by corruption... there's no economic growth and development, there's no improvement," he said.&nbsp;

'I feel so hungry again'

For now,&nbsp;Pacquiao&nbsp;said his mind was focused on the looming showdown with fellow southpaw Spence, the 31-year-old unbeaten unified welterweight world champion.

Pacquiao, who boasts a 62-7-2 win-loss-draw record, will be fighting for the first time since he beat Keith Thurman in July 2019 for the WBA welterweight title -- which he lost during the coronavirus pandemic due to inactivity.&nbsp;

He will fly to Los Angeles this month where he will be reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach.

In the meantime, he shadow boxes and spars with long-time associate Buboy Fernandez at his Pacman Wild Card Gym.&nbsp;

"I believe 110 percent that Manny is going to win. His stamina is still there," Fernandez told AFP.

Hanging above the&nbsp;ring, along with photos of his bloody fights, are biblical proverbs on the importance of "self-discipline" and faith.

Despite his age and long absence from the&nbsp;ring,&nbsp;Pacquiao&nbsp;said he was undaunted.&nbsp;

"It's good for me to have (a) rest for almost two years," he said.&nbsp;

"I feel so hungry again and excited (for) the fight... I feel that same feeling that I had when I was at 22, 23 years old."

A two-year break from boxing has left Philippine legend Manny Pacquiao "hungry" to get back in the ring for what could be the last fight of his storied career -- and a warm-up for a presidential rumble.

A two-year break from boxing has left Philippine legend Manny Pacquiao "hungry" to get back in the ring for what could be the last fight of his storied career -- and a warm-up for a presidential rumble. The eight-division world champion and beloved national hero will have tens of millions of fans from the boxing-mad archipelago in his corner when he faces American Errol Spence in Las Vegas on August 21. Pacquiao's comeback fight is a chance to prove his mettle at 42 -- an age when most boxers have already hung up their gloves -- and score a lucrative payday before a widely expected tilt at the presidency next year. "I'm a politician, all politicians are dreaming for the higher position," the elected senator told AFP in his southern hometown of General Santos, where he is training. "I'm going to announce (my decision) in the proper time, maybe after the fight." Pacquiao's star power in a country famed for its celebrity-obsessed politics would put him in a strong position in the presidential race. But it would not guarantee victory. A public skirmish between Pacquiao and President Rodrigo Duterte over the latter's handling of the South China Sea dispute with Beijing and official graft could erode support for the boxer. Duterte -- who is allowed to serve only one term as president -- rivals Pacquiao for the affections of many Filipinos and has even flagged a possible run for the vice presidency in 2022. Until recently, Pacquiao was a high-profile backer of Duterte and his controversial drug war, which International Criminal Court prosecutors want to investigate for the alleged unlawful killing of possibly tens of thousands of people. Pacquiao told AFP he would continue the crackdown, but in a "proper way" that does not abuse "the rights of individuals". Asked if he would protect the current president from criminal charges if he became leader, he said: "All of us are bound to the law." Pacquiao would face a formidable opponent if Duterte's daughter, Sara, were to run for the top job. A recent poll showed the Davao city mayor -- the same position her father held before he took power in 2016 -- with the most voter support, well ahead of Pacquiao and other potential contenders. But a lot can change between now and the October deadline for candidates to register. "Right now my expectation is that (Pacquiao) runs, but not as Duterte's chosen successor," said Eurasia Group analyst Peter Mumford. "But it's the Philippines so it's very unpredictable." Decisions on whether to retire after the Spence fight or run for the highest office are in God's hands, according to Pacquiao, a father of five. Religion looms large in the life of the boxer, who became a devout evangelical Christian about a decade ago after giving up his playboy lifestyle. Also Read | US calls report of China building more than 100 nuclear missile silos 'concerning' He even relies on his faith -- and vitamin C -- to ward off Covid-19 while he considers getting vaccinated against the deadly disease. "I always keep in trusting God because he's the one who give me the ability to accomplish all those things," he said. 'Idol of everyone' Pacquiao is deeply admired in the Philippines for his generosity and hauling himself out of poverty to become one of the world's greatest and wealthiest boxers. Dozens of locals wait outside his gym in downtown General Santos in the hope of catching a glimpse of the rags-to-riches hero -- and receiving some money -- before he climbs into an olive green Hummer to drive back to his manicured compound. "Pacquiao is the idol of everyone in this city," said Meme Dipundato, a 40-year-old tricycle driver. "What I really like about Pacquiao is not his boxing but his act of helping the poor." But the fighter has stirred controversy since entering politics in 2010 -- first as a congressman and then a more high-profile position in the Senate -- supporting the death penalty and describing gay couples as "worse than animals". He promises to pull no punches if he were to become president -- starting with sending "hundreds or thousands" of crooked politicians to a purpose-built "mega prison". "There are so many problems in this country caused by corruption... there's no economic growth and development, there's no improvement," he said. 'I feel so hungry again' For now, Pacquiao said his mind was focused on the looming showdown with fellow southpaw Spence, the 31-year-old unbeaten unified welterweight world champion. Pacquiao, who boasts a 62-7-2 win-loss-draw record, will be fighting for the first time since he beat Keith Thurman in July 2019 for the WBA welterweight title -- which he lost during the coronavirus pandemic due to inactivity. He will fly to Los Angeles this month where he will be reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach. In the meantime, he shadow boxes and spars with long-time associate Buboy Fernandez at his Pacman Wild Card Gym. "I believe 110 percent that Manny is going to win. His stamina is still there," Fernandez told AFP. Hanging above the ring, along with photos of his bloody fights, are biblical proverbs on the importance of "self-discipline" and faith. Despite his age and long absence from the ring, Pacquiao said he was undaunted. "It's good for me to have (a) rest for almost two years," he said. "I feel so hungry again and excited (for) the fight... I feel that same feeling that I had when I was at 22, 23 years old."

President Pacquiao? King of the ring mulls Philippines' top job

Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao and British fighter&nbsp;Amir&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;confirmed separately on Sunday that they would face each other on April 23 after weeks of conflicting reports.

Pacquiao tweeted: &quot;Negotiations between team Pacquiao and team&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;have come to terms for the April 23 bout as this is what the fans wanted.#PacquiaoKhan&quot;.

Khan, 30, a few minutes later posted on his official Twitter feed: &quot;My team and I have agreed terms with Manny Pacquiao and his team for a super fight #pacquiaokhan #April23rd&quot;.

Neither of them gave a venue for the match but a source in Pacquiao&#39;s office said the bout would be in the United Arab Emirates.

Pacquiao&#39;s American promoter, Bob Arum, has previously been quoted as saying on the ESPN that &quot;Manny is trying to get a fight done in the United Arab Emirates, and the people there favour him fighting&nbsp;Amir&nbsp;Khan&quot;.

Spokesmen for the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Pacquiao could not immediately be contacted for comment.

Pacquiao, 38, previously confirmed on Twitter that he was &quot;in negotiations&quot; to face&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;despite Arum&#39;s own efforts to arrange a fight with Australian Jeff Horn in April.

Pacquiao tweeted on February 11: &quot;See you in UAE for my next fight. #TeamPacquiao&quot;.

He also posted a poll on his official Twitter feed asking his 110,000-plus followers to choose either Horn,&nbsp;Khan, American Terence Crawford or Briton Kell Brook as his next opponent.

Khan&nbsp;had been leading the poll when it was taken down.

Pacquiao announced a brief retirement last year but made a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas in November, saying he still felt like a youngster.

Pacquiao had said he was retiring to focus on his new role as Philippine senator, after winning elections last year on the back of his sporting fame.

(AFP)

Neither of them gave a venue for the match but a source in Pacquiao's office said the bout would be in the United Arab Emirates

Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao and British fighter Amir Khan confirmed separately on Sunday that they would face each other on April 23 after weeks of conflicting reports. Pacquiao tweeted: "Negotiations between team Pacquiao and team Khan have come to terms for the April 23 bout as this is what the fans wanted.#PacquiaoKhan". Khan, 30, a few minutes later posted on his official Twitter feed: "My team and I have agreed terms with Manny Pacquiao and his team for a super fight #pacquiaokhan #April23rd". Neither of them gave a venue for the match but a source in Pacquiao's office said the bout would be in the United Arab Emirates. Pacquiao's American promoter, Bob Arum, has previously been quoted as saying on the ESPN that "Manny is trying to get a fight done in the United Arab Emirates, and the people there favour him fighting Amir Khan". Spokesmen for the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Pacquiao could not immediately be contacted for comment. Pacquiao, 38, previously confirmed on Twitter that he was "in negotiations" to face Khan despite Arum's own efforts to arrange a fight with Australian Jeff Horn in April. Pacquiao tweeted on February 11: "See you in UAE for my next fight. #TeamPacquiao". He also posted a poll on his official Twitter feed asking his 110,000-plus followers to choose either Horn, Khan, American Terence Crawford or Briton Kell Brook as his next opponent. Khan had been leading the poll when it was taken down. Pacquiao announced a brief retirement last year but made a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas in November, saying he still felt like a youngster. Pacquiao had said he was retiring to focus on his new role as Philippine senator, after winning elections last year on the back of his sporting fame. (AFP)

Pacquiao, Amir Khan to face each other on April 23

Filipinos expressed mixed reactions on boxing legend Manny Pacquiao&#39;s decision to come out of retirement and get back into the boxing ring.

Pacquiao, who recently became a Philippine senator, announced on Wednesday he will fight World Boxing Organization Welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on November 5 in Las Vegas.

A boxing trainer at a fitness gym in the Philippine capital was in favour of Pacquiao&#39;s decision.&nbsp;&quot;We all know that Pacquiao has been boxing since he was a kid. He was so used to boxing his body is looking it,&quot; said boxing trainer Jason Olanda.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s okay if he wants to continue boxing while doing the duties of a Senator. You only need about three months to train and he can get back to his duties after his match,&quot; added Jeffrey Biron, another boxing trainer.

But for college student Steven Jane, Pacquiao should only focus on either being a politician or a boxer.

&quot;Well, saying that he retired from boxing and coming back, I think he should be straight up to his mind what he&#39;s supposed to do, because right now it kind of seems he&#39;s not really sure what he&#39;s doing, because he said he was going to retire but he&#39;s now coming back, so I think he should really be focusing only on one thing,&quot; he said.

&quot;I&#39;m not saying it&#39;s wrong, but for me, his attention will be divided between his work as a senator and as a boxer,&quot; said Ralph Alvero, a fruit vendor who has watched all of Pacquiao&#39;s fights on television.

Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs), who has won world titles in eight weight divisions, was widely expected to return to the ring at some point. 
 
Pacquiao announced his retirement following an April 9 victory over Timothy Bradley Jr&nbsp;in their third fight, so he could focus on his senate duties in the Philippines.&nbsp;Pacquiao, who was elected to the Philippines senate in May, said he will spend the entire training camp in his home country so he can also attend to his legislative work. 
 
(Reuters)

Back home there were mixed reactions to the boxer's decision to get back to fighting after recently becoming a senator

Filipinos expressed mixed reactions on boxing legend Manny Pacquiao's decision to come out of retirement and get back into the boxing ring. Pacquiao, who recently became a Philippine senator, announced on Wednesday he will fight World Boxing Organization Welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on November 5 in Las Vegas. A boxing trainer at a fitness gym in the Philippine capital was in favour of Pacquiao's decision. "We all know that Pacquiao has been boxing since he was a kid. He was so used to boxing his body is looking it," said boxing trainer Jason Olanda. "It's okay if he wants to continue boxing while doing the duties of a Senator. You only need about three months to train and he can get back to his duties after his match," added Jeffrey Biron, another boxing trainer. But for college student Steven Jane, Pacquiao should only focus on either being a politician or a boxer. "Well, saying that he retired from boxing and coming back, I think he should be straight up to his mind what he's supposed to do, because right now it kind of seems he's not really sure what he's doing, because he said he was going to retire but he's now coming back, so I think he should really be focusing only on one thing," he said. "I'm not saying it's wrong, but for me, his attention will be divided between his work as a senator and as a boxer," said Ralph Alvero, a fruit vendor who has watched all of Pacquiao's fights on television. Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs), who has won world titles in eight weight divisions, was widely expected to return to the ring at some point. Pacquiao announced his retirement following an April 9 victory over Timothy Bradley Jr in their third fight, so he could focus on his senate duties in the Philippines. Pacquiao, who was elected to the Philippines senate in May, said he will spend the entire training camp in his home country so he can also attend to his legislative work. (Reuters)

Philippines boxing legend Manny Pacquiao to return to ring

pacquiao

Pacquiao, News on Pacquiao, stories on Pacquiao, articles on Pacquiao, Pacquiao stories at Wion, Pacquiao news, Pacquiao latest news