Manny Pacquiao retires from boxing to focus on political career
- Joe Hewlett
- 29 September 2021
Pacquiao is boxing's only eight-division world champion and will go down as one of the sport's greatest.
Manny Pacquiao has announced his retirement from boxing to focus on his political career.
The eight-division world champion, and senator of the Philippines, will run for president in his native's 2020 elections.
Pacquiao, 42, lost his final fight against Yordenis Ugas of Cuba in August via unanimous decision. "
Pacman" retires with a boxing record of 62-8-2 and includes standout wins over Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Oscar De La Hoya.
He was also involved in the most lucrative fight of combats sport against Floyd Mayweather - a bout that generated 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.
Pacquiao thanked the fans and trainer Freddie Roach for guiding him throughout his career. "I just heard the final bell. Boxing is over," said Pacquiao.
He added on social media that boxing had given him "the chance to fight my way out of poverty" and "the courage to change more lives".
"I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life," he said."To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you! Thank you for all the wonderful memories.
"This is the hardest decision I've ever made, but I'm at peace with it. Chase your dreams, work hard, and watch what happens. Goodbye boxing."
To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you! Thank you for all the wonderful memories. This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but I’m at peace with it. Chase your dreams, work hard, and watch what happens. Good bye boxing. https://t.co/Bde4wO82sA
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) September 29, 2021
Pacquiao grew up in poverty in the south of the Philippines, only to move to Manila as a teenager and begin his boxing career.
By 19 he became world champion, defeating Thailand's Chatchai Sasakul for the WBC flyweight title in 1998.
It was at light welterweight and welterweight where he made his name though, defeating Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley.
His most recent wins were against Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman in 2019 before the global pandemic.
Pacquiao was expected to take on Errol Spence Jr. only for the American to sustain an eye injury and pull out just one week before the Las Vegas showdown.
Following defeat to Ugas, Pacquiao contemplated a rematch but will now run for president in the Philippines after being nominated as a candidate by party PDP-Laban.
