Home Boxing News Manny Pacquiao hints at retirement after announcing presidential bid

Manny Pacquiao hints at retirement after announcing presidential bid

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao 62-8-2 (39) has given the strongest indication yet that he is preparing to hang up the gloves after announcing his plan to run for president of the Philippines next year.

The 42-year-old Filipino superstar returned to the ring last month after a two-year layoff only to lose by decision to Yordenis Ugas 27-4 (12) in Las Vegas.

Ugas was a late replacement for WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr 27-0 (21) who was forced to withdraw from the fight when he failed his pre-fight medical with an eye injury.

The 35-year-old Cuban was able to outbox the surprisingly stationary Pacquiao, winning by scores of 115-113 and 116-112 twice in a clear-cut victory. Pacquiao complained of leg cramps after the fight.

In the wake of the loss speculation has grown that Pacquiao would retire. It appears now that Pacquiao is heeding that call.

“My boxing career is already over,” Pacquiao said during an appearance on Toni Talks.“It’s done because I’ve been in boxing for a long time and my family says that it is enough.”

Earlier this week Pacquiao, who is currently a senator in his native Philippines, announced his plan to run for president.

It seems unlikely that a presidential candidate would have time to box professionally and even less likely that a president would.

The election is in May.

“I boldly accept the challenge of running as president of the Philippines,” Pacquiao said in a statement.

“We need progress. We need to win against poverty. We need government to serve our people with integrity, compassion and transparency. The time is now. I am ready to rise to the challenge of leadership.”

But not everyone is prepared to call time on Pacquiao’s career just yet.

President of MP Promotions Sean Gibbons to Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports: “The Senator is a presidential candidate and has made no decision on boxing career yet.

“He will in the next few weeks make a final decision whether to have one more or retire.”

Pacquiao has had an illustrious career spanning 26 years across four different decades, winning world title across eight different weight classes.

He has been one-half of some of the most exciting fights across the last two decades including his trilogy with Erik Morales and his four-fight series with arch nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.

Some of the other names he has faced and defeated include Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley.

In 2015 Pacquiao finally got the chance to face Floyd Mayweather Jr in what was billed the Fight of the Century. Both boxers reportedly took home nine figure purses but the bout was a dour affair with the undefeated American taking a defence first approach to the fight, eventually winning on points.

If Pacquiao retires tomorrow he will be fondly remembered as an electrifying southpaw with blinding speed and a buzzsaw attack that saw him win the hearts of fight fans around the globe as he systematically tore down the biggest names in the sport.