One of the main objectives of the World Boxing Association (WBA) is to have integral athletes, capable of transcending beyond sport. Manny Pacquiao is a clear example of the values ​​that the WBA has tried to instill from the beginning of its history, and for that reason, the pioneer organization is proud that the Filipino has been invited by the Oxford Union and the Cambridge Union to give separate speeches in both discussion groups belonging to the campuses of their universities.

The welterweight champion of the WBA arrived in London this week to share with several personalities of boxing and politics; In addition, he attended the invitations to these houses of study to give a motivating message to the members of both groups.

“I am a fighter and I will always be a fighter, not just because it is my position. I was a fighter long before entering a boxing ring, I had to fight every day for my life,” the senator in his native Philippines said in Oxford.

The difficulty of his childhood and the great recognition he has achieved in his adult life are evidence that work and effort pays off. In that sense, Pacquiao spoke about how he overcame the difficulties: “We were poor: I had to work from the age of seven. Many days I had no food and drank a glass of water so that at least my stomach was full. But my mind and my spirit were never hungry.”

The Oxford Union was founded in 1823 and is one of the most prestigious student debate associations in the world, while the Cambridge Union dates back to 1815 and is also one of the oldest. Both have hosted great characters throughout history, from Albert Einstein to Margaret Thatcher.

Pacquiao is preparing to defend his WBA 147-pound belt next year while meeting the commitments of his busy schedule. We look forward to seeing what is next for the global icon that continues to surprise the world.