Orlando Salido, a former two-division world champion best known as the only man to hold a professional win against Vasyl Lomachenko, was elected as a state deputy in Mexico on Sunday evening.
Salido, 39, was elected in Sonora’s state legislature as a representative of the same party belonging to Mexico’s new president-elect, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Salido was reportedly handpicked to run by party officials because of his popularity in the region.
”It’s time to get together and work for the people who really need our help. They need better education, access to good health services and employment alternatives,” said Salido (h/t ESPN). “I was fortunate to have boxing in my life and was able to take that opportunity to better myself, and now I want to give back to the community that has supported me throughout my career.”
Salido, a former featherweight and junior lightweight world champion, holds a 44-14-4 (1 NC) record that includes 31 knockout victories. He was also one of the participants in the thrilling title fight against Francisco Vargas that was later deemed the 2016 ESPN fight of the year.
The former champion plans to juggle his responsibilities as a state deputy with his boxing profession. He added that he hopes to “emulate” Manny Pacquiao, who is a senator in the Philippines while still boxing.
Lopez Obrador ran as a candidate in the 2018 presidential elections — his third time running in the presidential race. He represented Juntos Haremos Historia, a coalition of the left-wing Labor Party, right-wing Social Encounter Party, and MORENA, and defeated his opponents in a landslide victory. He will assume office on December 1, 2018.
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