ARLINGTON – In boxing, distractions typically come from government's judicial branch, not its legislative.
The likes of assault, breach of contract, possession, DUI and bankruptcy litter the sentences spoken and written about the sport.
Now along comes Manny Pacquiao, whose training staff has bemoaned the time he's spent politicking along the post-election trail.
When Pacquiao last fought at Cowboys Stadium in March, he was merely a boxing phenom. When he enters the same ring Saturday night, announcer Michael Buffer is almost sure to introduce Pacquiao as a "seven-time world champion and congressman representing the Philippine province of Sarangani."
The "seven-time" is open for debate among boxing aficionados who question the validity of a couple of the titles, if not his skill in the ring. "Congressman" is not. In May, Pacquiao won election in a landslide, defeating a heavily favored candidate described by AOL as a member of "an entrenched billionaire clan."
Not that Pacquiao, 31, is a poor man. He could earn more than $15 million for Saturday's fight against Antonio Margarito. But big paydays are a relatively new phenomenon for him. And it's not Kennedy wealth or Bush family money or the dynastic dollars that were at the disposal of Roy Chiongbian.
According to The Philippine Star , the losing candidate is "gatekeeper of the vast Chiongbian business empire involved in shipping, real estate, agri-business and others." His mother is a former governor of the province. His father was a congressman. His brother was the congressman Pacquiao replaced.
By contrast, Pacquiao's is a rags-to-riches story. It's pure Hollywood, told lovingly by CBS' 60 Minutes five days ago without a hint of the show's signature ferocity and skepticism.
Boxing made Pacquiao an international star and a Philippine icon. Rich people's billions can be no match for a people's champion, provided he runs a serious, smart campaign that is well-funded and guided by political professionals.
National hero
When he enters the ring here Saturday night, it will be around noon Sunday in the Philippines. Churches will cancel afternoon mass. A nation will be glued to its television sets, which will offer the live broadcast for free. A diminutive 5-5 ½ and bulked up to all of 147 pounds, Pacquiao means as much to his country as the soccer team does to Brazilians, the hockey team does to Canadians and the Packers do to Green Bay.
To listen to Paccquiao speak about his legislative agenda for his impoverished constituency would make even the most cynical observer dig deep for a few dollars for the cause.
Seated on a ring apron minutes after his only public workout Tuesday, Congressman Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao of the People's Champ Movement party spoke of rampant unemployment, education inequity, lack of health care and sickening human trafficking in his district. His mission: to eradicate all.
"It is also God's mission for me," he said quietly, without the least hint of evangelistic fervor.
It is also a full-time job. As such, Pacquiao said he is in constant communication with staff members who accompanied him to the fight as well as those back home to keep him "updated."
But preparing for a championship fight against Margarito, a former world champion, Paquiao's boxing staff would argue, must be a full-time endeavor as well.
Full schedule
Trainer Freddie Roach complained when early preparation for Margarito was disrupted daily by politics for a few hours or for a full day to allow Pacquiao to travel from Sarangani to the nation's capital in Manila to meet with President Benigno Aquino III.
After training was moved to Los Angeles, there was further grumbling when promoter Bob Arum asked Pacquiao to spend a late October evening in Las Vegas campaigning among Filipino voters for his friend, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, who was in a desperate fight for re-election.
"You know Filipinos are a huge voting block in Nevada," Arum said. "Manny did it as a personal favor for me and for Harry. The senator will never forget it."
Not to comprehend Roach's annoyance with such frivolity during fight preparation is not to understand the single-minded focus of a football coach before a Super Bowl or a gymnastics coach on the eve of an Olympics. Even one step from the routine is viewed as an unnecessary and unwelcome distraction.
Roach volunteered this week that during the eight weeks of training, Pacquiao has confessed to missing working in his congressional office. At the same time, Roach said his fighter is 100 percent ready to step into the ring against an opponent who is listed as 4 ½ inches taller and could outweigh him by as much as 15 pounds when they enter the ring about 28 hours after the weigh-in.
"Manny has spoiled us because he is usually ready after three weeks of training," said Roach, who grades this training camp experience as a B. "This time it has taken a little longer, but he is ready now."
Pacquiao, who has never weighed more than 147 pounds for a fight, said he planned to bulk up to today's 150-pound weigh-in limit, but could not. He found the extra weight made him feel heavy and sluggish and, most importantly, it affected his speed.
He is counting on that speed to offset the relatively hulking Margarito, who plans to weigh more than 160 on fight night.
"We have some strategy to counter his size," Pacquiao said.
As often happens in a Pacquiao media session that includes a throng of reporters from the Philippines, the subject swung back and forth between boxing and politics.
"What draws people to you?" an inquiring mind wanted to know.
Pacquiao, as he often does, took a moment to think before answering.
"I come from nothing," he said. "I can box. I care. I'm still humble and I'm nice to people."
Fight at a glance
Who: Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) vs. Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs)
What: Bout for the vacant World Boxing Council 154-pound championship
Where: Cowboys Stadium
When: Saturday around 10 p.m.
Tickets: Available
TV: HBO pay-per-view with suggested retail price of $54.95Around 10 p.m. Saturday, Cowboys Stadium (HBO pay-per-view)
Dallasnews.com
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