Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao denied that he ever told Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum that he intended to run for president of the Philippines in the upcoming 2022 elections.
During a video interview with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, Arum claimed that Pacquiao not only advised him of the presidential run, but also asked him to be at the inauguration.
“The first president I think we’ll get as a fighter is little Manny Pacquiao, who told me, once again. I did a Zoom telephone call with him, ‘Bob, I’m gonna run in 2022 and, when I win, I want you there at my inauguration,'” Arum said.
But on Monday Pacquiao issued a statement to local media in the Philippines which denied that he ever discussed politics with the veteran promoter.
“As far as I know, we never talked about politics. The last time we talked on Zoom, Bob discussed possible fight schedules, but never about politics. Our discussion was all about boxing,” said Pacquiao, according to The Manila Times.
“This is not the time for politics. The country has so much problems, what we need is unity and cooperation in order to mitigate the difficulties of our countrymen. We need to unite. Let’s unite so we can help our countrymen. Many have lost their jobs, especially overseas Filipino workers. Politics is not what we need now.”
Pacquiao, who serves as a senator in the Philippines, went on record a year ago to state he does not plan to run for president in 2022. Instead, he told reporters that he wants to form his own political party.
Currently the WBA’s welterweight champion, Pacquiao was in the ring back in July 2019, when he won a twelve round decision over Keith Thurman to capture the world title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed back his first defense.