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