Pacquiao at career crossroads senate’s gain, boxing’s loss

MANILA, Philippines - A victory in the May 2016 elections could mean the end of Manny Pacquiao’s boxing career.

Pacquiao has already announced that he’s running for senator in the next elections, and that if he wins, then it’s time to put all his time and energy into public service.

He left via  Philippine Airlines flight for  New York.

The STAR asked Pacquiao what’s more important to him now – his boxing career and making his fans happy or his political career and serving the Filipino people.

“Right now I can say both. But if I become a senator I have to devote myself a hundred percent as a public servant,” he said inside the NAIA Terminal 2.

“That’s why it was very hard to make the decision if I will run or not. But now I have decided to run,” he said.

Pacquiao has yet to file his candidacy, and is expected to do it once he returns from New York before this week’s deadline for the filing.

In an SWS survey that came out a month ago, Pacquiao stood in ninth place in the battle for 12 senatorial slots.

Pacquiao has yet to decide which political party to join, but a reliable source said if former Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte runs for president, then the boxer might side with Duterte.

Then sooner or later, the 36-year-old Pacquiao will have to quit boxing.

“I’ve been in boxing for 20 years. Siguro (Maybe) one more fight or two then that’s it,” he said.

Pacquiao left for New York where he will receive the Asia Society 2015 Game Changer award on Wednesday at the United Nations Headquarters.

The Asia Society is a leading educational organization that promotes mutual understanding among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context.

Asia Society is honoring Pacquiao for his “remarkable success” and for being “a major humanitarian force and directing his philanthropy toward numerous causes, including education and the fight against human trafficking.”

Pacquiao was elated by the distinction.

“It’s a flattering description. It makes me seem like a sort of super hero. We all know in reality that I’m not. I am but a man blessed by God who has answered his call to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Pacquiao in a short speech.

The eight-division world champion also clarified news that came out a few days ago that he’s in talks with Floyd Mayweather Jr. regarding a possible rematch.

“No. I do not talk to him,” he said of Mayweather.

Pacquiao is slated to return to the ring sometime in February or April next year against an opponent he has yet to choose.

It’s Amir Khan who’s ahead of the pack, according to Pacquiao, saying he’s aware of negotiations between his promoter, Bob Arum, and the British star.