“In 2016, I plan to run for vice president. By that time, there will be no more boxing for me,” the 32-year-old fighter said from Mexico in an interview with Manila’s GMA television that was aired Friday.
The high-school dropout, often cited as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, is already a member of the Filipino parliament and has long been touted as a potential leader of his country.
But political observers immediately pointed out that it would be constitutionally impossible for him to run for vice president in 2016.
He will be just 37 years old when the May 2016 elections are held, below the minimum age requirement of 40 set in the country’s constitution.
“If the constitution has not been amended by then, he might have a problem,” according to James Jimenez, spokesman for the government’s Commission on Elections. “But you can’t tell someone not to dream.”
Pacquiao won a seat in the country’s House of Representatives in May last year, representing the impoverished southern province of Sarangani.
GMA said it interviewed Pacquiao in Mexico, where he is promoting his World Boxing Organization welterweight title bout against Mexico’s Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on Nov. 12.
Pacquiao has compiled a 53-3 win-loss record with two draws on his way to 10 world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions.
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