MODERN boxing phenomenon Manny Pacquiao, 35, has revealed he plans to retire from the sport that made him a superstar in 2016. The Filipino, already twice elected to Congress, indicated he will run for Senate once his gloves have been permanently packed away.
Reports of Pacquiao’s decline were exaggerated in 2012 when he followed a controversial points defeat to Timothy Bradley with a brutal loss to Juan Manuel Marquez. But he rode out the crisis, and rebounded in 2013 by dominating Brandon Rios, and this year, posted a clear victory over Bradley in their return. The rejuvenation earned him a contract extension with long term promoters, Top Rank. In November, he defends his WBO welterweight title against Chris Algieri in Macau, China.
His trainer Freddie Roach has often spoke of Pacquiao’s hectic life outside boxing playing havoc with his training and should he indeed walk away in two years time, at the age of 37, it would be of little surprise. The southpaw has been a professional for almost 20 years, and his long career, that has spawned world titles from flyweight to light-middleweight, will eventually take its toll.
After revealing his plans to retire, Pacquiao told DZMM: “There’s a big possibility that I will run for Senator. UNA (United Nationalist Alliance party) asked me to join its slate and I am grateful they picked me.”
With Floyd Mayweather heading towards retirement at a similar time, it remains unlikely this era’s two finest fighters will meet in the ring.
