Manny Pacquiao says goodbye

Manny Pacquiao

APRIL 9 could be the last time Manny Pacquiao enters a boxing ring. He will fight Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand but has already started saying his goodbyes.

โ€œIโ€™m so thankful for this great opportunity,โ€ he said. โ€œIโ€™m going to retire, youโ€™re giving me another chance in boxing to prove that I can still fight until the end.โ€

Even though he has fought Tim Bradley twice before, he explained why it was the fight he wanted. โ€œThis is a great opportunity and privilege to fight Bradley again,” he said. “I chose Bradley because I believe Bradley is different from before, when we had our last fight. He improved a lot, we saw that in his last fight against [Brandon Rios.โ€

Primarily he was grateful for his fans. โ€œMaybe this is our last time to see each other. I give thanks for all your support. Without you โ€ฆ weโ€™re not here,โ€ he said.

Pacquiao also revealed why has decided to quit. โ€œIโ€™m happy to hang my gloves up after this fight because of what I have done. Iโ€™m sure I will feel sad, but thatโ€™s life. Not all the time you can keep fighting, not all the time youโ€™re in the ring. But itโ€™s time,โ€ he said.

โ€œI remember when I started boxing. I started boxing because I wanted to help my family, I wanted to help my mother. Now I end my boxing career because I want to help my countrymen, the Filipino people.โ€

He will pursue his political career and run for the Senate in the Philippines. But he will remain as ambitious as ever. โ€œI never thought that I could be a boxer. I never thought I could accomplish all this,โ€ he reflected.

His promoter, Bob Arum, hasnโ€™t come to terms with the thought of Pacquiao calling it a day. โ€œI canโ€™t believe it,โ€ Bob said. โ€œIf this is truly the last time, Manny, itโ€™s been a great ride and I want to thank you for everything.โ€

Premier Sports will screen Pacquiao versus Bradley in the UK on April 9. Click HERE for more

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