Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao has fought bouts against some of the world's toughest competitors but now the WBO welterweight champion has stepped out of the boxing ring and into the political arena.

He has cast his vote in the Philippines elections where the current WBO welterweight champion is hoping to win a seat in Congress.

In a country where one quarter of the population live on less than $1.25 a day, Pacquiao is running a has run a campaign based on heavy support for the poor.

Pacquiao is fighting for the seat in his home province of South Cotabato. He is taking on businessman Roy Chiongbian - a man who describes his parents as "the mother and father" of the area.

But even for a national hero and celebrity like "Pacman," victory is far from guaranteed.

It's the second time Pacquiao has run for Congress, having been defeated in 2007 when he first made a bid for the seat in his home province.

Even if Pacquiao does go to Manila, the champion still plans to get in back into more familiar surroundings again.

In November Pacquiao will get back in the ring to take on American Floyd Mayweather Jr. in one of the most anticipated bouts of the year.