Pacquiao: Fight earnings won’t go to campaign chest
SENATOR Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao said he would not tap into his earnings from future megafights to finance his political endeavors in 2022.
There are speculations that Pacquiao is being lined up for either a rematch with Floyd Mayweather or a match against Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar Conor McGregor.
Any of those fights could deliver a windfall for the
41-year-old Pacquiao.
But in an interview with TheManila recently, he made it clear that whatever he earns, if any of the fights materialize, would not form part of his campaign chest.
Pacquiao has not disclosed if he was running for reelection in the Senate or would take a crack at the vice presidency or even the presidency.
“I am not thinking about it (2023 plans) and you don’t need that kind of amount to run,” he said.
A fight against McGregor could bring upwards of $250 million (P12,690,125,000), according to a report by business insider reporter Alan Dawson last January 17.
The Filipino ring legend’s biggest fight purse came from his May 2015 bout against Mayweather in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He lost that fight by unanimous decision and ever since reports have
been floating about that a mega rematch will be happening this year.
The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight reportedly earned $300 million, with Pacquiao getting $120 million and Mayweather taking home the rest.
But Pacquiao (62-7-2 win-lossdraw record, with 39 knockouts) insisted that he does not need to spend that much money in an election.
“Hindikailanganggumastosng malaki,‘yungnaaayonlangsabatas (You don’t need that big an amount, just enough to comply with the law),” he said.
Pacquiao’s last fight was a split decision win over Keith Thurman last July 20 in Las Vegas.
“Hindikailanganbilhin‘yungtao. Angimportante,malamanngtao ‘yunghangarinmo,‘yungtaohindi ‘yanmabibili (You don’t need to buy the people. The important thing is for the people to learn what’s your plan, you cannot buy the people).”
Pacquiao’s next fight is set in April or June against a still-unnamed opponent.