Manny has no room for politics – for now

LAS VEGAS – There was a time when Manny Pacquiao’s overseas fights looked like a political convention.

From mayors to congressmen, senators and even a former president, they all came to see the 42-year-old Pacquiao fight in the flesh.

But things have changed.

With only three days before Pacquiao, the senator, enters the ring for the first time in over two years, there’s no sign of the good old times.

The boxing icon, you see, is planning to seek the presidency in next year’s May elections.

And his plans must have drawn a thin political line between his loyal supporters and those now trying to stay on the safe side.

Pacquiao and President Duterte, old friends, no longer see eye to eye.

“We’ll see who comes or who doesn’t,” said former Bacolod congressman Monico Puentevella, now Pacquiao’s spokesperson.

“That will be interesting,” he told Manila-based sports scribes yesterday.

Pacquiao, according to Puentevella, has been abreast with the political picture back home.

“But I kept telling him to forget politics for now, and focus on the coming fight, and we agreed on that,” said Puentevella. “But besides, hindi naman sila (politicians) hinahanap ni senator.

“Except perhaps when he told me, ‘At least alam na natin kung sino talaga ang sa atin,’” added Puentevella.

So close to the fight, there’s no room for politics for Pacquiao.

That means fewer or no politicians at ringside.