by Jesse Ian Lardies
33-year-old Filipino congressman, Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) has recently gone on record, admonishing American president, Barack Obama for his stance regarding gay marriage. “God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other,” stated the 8-division champion, in stark contrast to President Obama’s position.
Manny Pacquiao was well known in his native country for living a life of debauchery and excess; owning nightclubs, gambling establishments, arenas dedicated to animal warfare and of course, pubs. Pacquiao, though, has recently shut down many of those institutions of ill-repute, citing his rekindled love for God as the reason. He has also reportedly grown closer than ever with his wife, Jinkee following rumors that she had filed divorce papers ahead of his 2011 rubber-match with Juan Manuel Marquez.
“Pacman”, now a devout Roman Catholic, has also listed God as his principal reason for wanting to give up boxing.
Clarification should be sought from the representative of the Sarangani Provence, however, because shortly after condemning all his Earthly vices, Chairman Pacquiao received 1 million dollars for starring in a commercial promoting popular liquor brand, Hennessy.
The idea of retiring from the sport of boxing is nothing new to Manny Pacquiao, having already stated that he plans on running for governor and eventually President of the Philippines. Seeing how most political races are based on popularity rather than substance, it seems quite likely that we will be seeing Pacquaio’s legendary run come to an end sooner rather than later.
Loose ends in the Philippines would need to be tied with a pretty ribbon for Pacquiao’s plan to come to fruition, though, as he is currently being scrutinized by the nation’s Bureau Of Internal Revenue (similar to the United States’ IRS) for non-compliance regarding filing his tax claims – Congressman Pacquiao claims that the BIR is guilty of “graft and corruption”.
This news shouldn’t be surprising to regular readers of this website, and given this years’ VisionQuest debacle that Pacquiao, adviser Mike Koncz and long-time promoter Bob Arum were associated with (conflicts of interests, financial inconsistencies and concealed agendas outlined in superb detail by The Boxing Tribune’s own Paul Magno, HERE ), one would assume that Pacquaio’s problems are perhaps a bit more deep-seated than anyone in his camp would care to admit.
In any case, President Barack Obama is the first leader from the United States to openly back gay marriage and Manny Pacquiao is the first boxer to openly oppose such a notion saying “…It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah…” To quote wikipedia for the unfamiliar, Sodom and Gomorrah have been used as metaphors for vice and homosexuality, viewed as a deviation (from God’s plan). Strong words from a man who has had enough immorality to last him several lifetimes – but hey, no one is perfect.
Manny Pacquiao takes on the unbeaten Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley on June 9 live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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