Former boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao has failed in his candidacy for President of the Philippines.
The 43-year-old only got 6.8 percent of the votes in the election, putting him far behind the clear winner Ferdinand Marcos Junior and second-placed Leni Robredo. Pacquiao had already been defeated in the polls before the vote.
As part of his application, he had announced a strict course against drugs and crime as well as corruption within the political elite.
Pacquiao, who announced his retirement last September, previously admitted to having used drugs himself.
No return to the boxing ring
After his failed candidacy, the multiple world champion now has to forego a second term in the Senate, to which he has been a member since 2016. He had ruled out a sporting comeback to the “AFP” news agency in the run-up to the election, even in the event of a defeat: “I’ll be 43 years old, so it’s enough for me, I’m done,” said the father of five in November.
In his 26-year professional career (62 wins in 72 fights), Pacquiao became world champion in eight different weight classes. This makes him one of the best boxers in recent history.
His fight in 2015 against Floyd Mayweather Jr., which “Pac-Man” lost unanimously on points, received the greatest attention.