Boxing legend and devoutly religious man, Manny Pacquiao has aired his views on gay marriages when speaking on a Philippine Television station.

“It’s just common sense,” said the 37-year-old Pacquiao, who is currently a member of the House of Representatives. “Have you seen any animal having male-to-male or female-to-female relations?”

Animals, he said, are better because they recognize gender differences, and “if you have male-to-male or female-to-female (relationships), then people are worse than animals.”

He took to twitter to apologise to the world after his remarks

Gay marriage is outlawed in the Philippines due to strong opposition from the Catholic Church and 80 percent of the country's 100 million people subscribe to the faith.

Gay marriages are officiated at small churches but these unions are not recognised by the church or the state.