MANILA – Filipino ring icon Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is closing his storied 26-year boxing career highlighted by eight world championships in as many divisions.
The 42-year-old Pacquiao made the announcement during his guesting at the “Toni Talks” online show of celebrity host/actress Toni Gonzaga as the fighting senator shifts his focus to his presidential ambition in the 2022 national elections.
“Yung boxing career ko, tapos na. Matagal na rin ako sa pagbo-boxing,” Pacquiao said. “Yung pamilya ko, lagi sinasabi na tama na. Nagtuloy-tuloy lang ako kasi passionate ako sa sport na ito.”
Pacquiao’s decision to hang his boxing gloves did not come as a surprise. He already dropped a hint to it following his one-sided unanimous decision defeat to WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás last month.
It was definitely a storied boxing career for Pacquiao, who started with a four-round unanimous decision win over Edmund Enting Ignacio in January 1995 at Sablayan.
Pacquiao went on to dominate his succeeding bouts and later captured world championships in the flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, super welterweight and bantamweight divisions.
Along the way, Pacquiao defeated fellow boxing legends Oscar dela Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, Oscar Larios, Ricky Hatton, Timothy Bradley, Adrien Broner, and Keith Thurman.
Pacquiao also suffered a handful of defeats to American fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jeff Horn and Ugas. The Filipino boxing legend finished his career with 62 wins (39 by way of stoppages), eight losses and two draws.
Pacquiao, however, said he will not leave the world of boxing for good. He will promote Filipino fighters under his MP Promotions.
“Magsu-support na lang ako ng boksingero para magkaroon tayo ng champion ulit,” Pacquiao said./PN
