Karol Nawrocki trains with Manny Pacquiao during Philippines visit

During his first official state visit to the Philippines, Polish President Karol Nawrocki participated in a boxing training session with legendary eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in Manila. The session, which included working on pads, was shared on social media by Pacquiao, who stated it was an honor to train the Polish leader.

Nawrocki’s visit also included academic and diplomatic engagements, such as delivering a lecture at the University of Santo Tomas regarding historical ties, shared religious heritage, and cooperation between Poland and the Philippines. He also met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The boxing encounter has sparked a political debate in Poland. While supporters and the presidential office view the event as a positive display of personality and a way to connect with diverse social groups, political opponents have criticized the optics, questioning the diplomatic appropriateness of the activity during a state visit.