21 years old at the highest level. World champion in six weight categories, from fly to welterweight, in major federations (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO). Title of oldest world champion at 40 years and 7 months. The wonderful career of Emmanuel “Manny Pacquaio” cannot be summed up in statistics but these three say a lot about the imprint left by the Filipino boxer in the history of modern boxing.
At 42, the man nicknamed “Pac Man” has just announced his retirement from sports after 72 fights including 62 victories, and a final defeat last August to keep his welter belt. With his immense popularity, he now wants to devote himself exclusively to political combat, aiming for the presidential election of 2022. After two terms of deputy and one of senator, victory is far from assured, but not completely unrealistic in a countries whose political class is covered with celebrities. “I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life. I can not imagine that I have just heard the final bell “which rings the end of the meeting, published the champion.
His gospel revelation in 2012 after years of excess
In the Philippines, it is a wealthy national hero, almost a demigod, who multiplies the hats: deputy, Christian preacher, basketball player and trainer, singer, sponsor of various brands. His journey, from the limbo of poverty to the bling-bling world of boxing, is a huge success story.
Born in Bukidnon, Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao left school at 14 and sold donuts by the roadside to help his mother and two little brothers. A social rise on which the candidate now wants to capitalize.
In the ring, thanks to the speed of his footwork, he quickly climbs the ranks to become one of the greatest boxers of all time. Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales or Marco Antonio Barrera could not do anything against him.
The sudden fame will make him fall into all the excesses: alcohol, gambling, cock fights, rumors of extramarital affairs with movie stars… But in 2012, the one who was brought up in Catholicism like 90% of Filipinos embraces evangelical faith and puts his sinful life behind him. He claims to have been chosen by the Almighty to spread Christ’s message.
Support for wars against drug cartels and homophobic protests
In the Philippines, his status as a national hero allows him to wear many hats: promoter of pizzas and cars, TV host, actor, professional basketball player… And even creator of a cryptocurrency bearing his name, the “PAC Token”. Known for his generosity, he has given huge sums to friends, fans and those in need.
He nevertheless remains a very divisive personality with extremist positions. And this more and more since he aims to lead his country of 110 million inhabitants. Sometimes mocked for his thick raw side, he is singled out for his lack of attendance in Parliament, where he has been elected since 2010, first deputy (2010-2016) then senator (since 2016).
He is creating controversy by supporting the president’s bloody war on drug cartels, which NGOs say has left tens of thousands of people dead and is the subject of an investigation by the International Criminal Court. He also, in the name of his faith, said his fierce opposition to divorce, abortion and contraception, and multiplied homophobic projections, which earned him the loss of his advertising contract with Nike.
He has publicly clashed with Duterte lately, over corruption and handling a maritime dispute with Beijing, and that could cost him support, as the current president remains extremely popular.
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