Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao apologises to gay community

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao has apologised after he sparked outrage by calling homosexuals “worse than animals”.

Pacquiao, the only eight-weight world champion in the history of boxing, has embarked on a political career in the Philippines and is currently running for a senate seat in the country’s May, 2016 elections.

The 37-year-old who plans to fight for the final time in April, 2016 when he challenges for Timothy Bradley’s WBO welterweight title, provoked controversy in a television interview aired earlier this week.

“It’s common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female. If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals,” said Pacquiao.

In a message posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, February 16, the boxer asked for forgiveness and insisted he was “not condemning LGBT” – but still maintained he is still “against same sex marriage”.

“I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt. I still stand on my belief that I’m against same sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I’m not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God Bless you all and I’m praying for you,” he said.