Manny Pacquiao: Boxing Great Adds Housing Fugitive to Charges in Philippines

The world's best pound-for-pound fighter, Manny Pacquiao, has more in common with his biggest rival than we knew. Although Pac-Man and Floyd Mayweather have never set foot in the ring together, the two are forever linked as two of the best fighters of this generation.

They can now be linked as boxers with controversial activities as well.

Floyd's legal troubles are well-documented. These troubles were also part of the reason the two were unable to schedule a fight with one another yet again, but Pacquiao's accused misdeeds are rather fresh.

According to Martin Rogers of Yahoo! Sports:

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Pacquiao has been accused of housing a fugitive former politician under investigation in connection with a stolen car racket and, in a separate incident, could reportedly face two years imprisonment after tax officials started proceedings against him for contempt.

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While the Filipino people and Pac's boxing career can easily ride this out, his political career can not.

As Rogers points out, "Earlier this year he gained attention for having the fourth-worst attendance record of all members of the Philippines Congress."

Pacquiao's aspirations in politics are about as well-documented as Floyd's problems. He's a cultural icon in the country, but Filipino government will not look kindly on someone who cannot uphold the law himself.

Taxes are one thing, but housing a fugitive, especially a former politician, is something else entirely.

The feisty fighter will be back in the ring June 9th taking on undefeated American, Timothy Bradley.

It will be mighty interesting to see if the proceedings back in the Philippines have any effect on Pac-Man's training for the fight.