Boxer Manny Pacquaio apologizes for saying gay couples are 'worse than animals'

Manny Pacquaio who is set to fight his last match against Timothy Bradley in April before retiring has now issued an apology for publicly stating that gay couples were 'worse than animals'.

Speaking to local broadcaster TV5 in an interview aired this week, Pacquiao stated:

"It's common sense. Do you see animals that go male to male or female to female? So the animals are even better. "Because they know how to distinguish from male to male or female to female. Right? Now if we allow male to male or female to female, then that makes us worse than animals."

Pacquaio who is currently running for a senate seat in his country's May elections tweeted

"I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt. God Bless!"