Manny Pacquiao ponders future outside, eyes Palace run

Manny Pacquiao is looking at life beyond boxing, pondering the day when his fights in the ring are done and his political battles intensify.

The 32-year-old southpaw defends his WBO welterweight title on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) against Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez, completing the 17th year of a pro boxing career that launched his rise into an Asian sport icon.

“I’m starting to think of my future life outside boxing,” Pacquiao said. “(I will fight) a couple more years. I’m still going to fight. I have a number in mind (when I will retire) but I won’t tell you.”

Multitasker

This will be Pacquiao’s second fight since being elected a congressman, a juggling act that has not hindered his careers in boxing, lawmaking or as a singer.

Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, raised the notion this week that Pacquiao would run for provincial governor in 2013, then for a Senate seat in 2016 and look at a presidential bid in 2022.

“His term is up in 2013, when he will run for governor of Sarangani province and probably win,” Arum said. “That’s the end of boxing … as a governor you’ve got to run the whole province. So that’s what he’s going to concentrate on.”

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, says that as far as boxing talent and work ethic are concerned, Pacquiao can fight long beyond 2013.

“Boxing is very addictive,” Roach said.

If the long-sought fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. remains out of reach, undefeated US world junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley is a likely next foe for Pacquiao if the American wins on Saturday’s undercard.