Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, 42, has said he will run for president in 2022 elections. Mr Pacquiao has served as senator of the Philippines since 2016. He said he wants to run for president because Filipino people need new government. He believes his career in boxing has helped him in politics and would give him skills he needs to be good president. He said in speech: "I'm fighter, and I will always be fighter inside and outside the ring." He added: "We need government to serve our people." Other sporting heroes have become leaders of their country, like Pakistan's cricketing hero Imran Khan and Liberia's soccer icon George Weah.
Emmanuel Pacquiao is one of greatest professional boxers of all time. He is only boxer in history to be world champion at eight different levels and won twelve major world titles. He is only boxer to hold world championships across four decades, from 1990s to the 2020s. In 2019, he became the oldest welterweight world champion ever at age of 40. Pacquiao has had other successes outside of his boxing and political careers. He was head coach and player for a Philippine Basketball Association team. He has also starred in movies, presented TV shows, and as singer, has released best-selling albums and songs. He is also preacher, philanthropist and YouTube personality.
