One last fight, then he’ll be ‘ready to quit’
Manny Pacquiao says 20 years in boxing enough, ready to hang gloves to focus on politics
AFTER more than two decades of punching people for a living, eightdivision world champion Manny Pacquiao hints that he's ready to hang up his gloves.
“I’m 37 years old na,” said Pacquiao in an interview by Karen Davila in ANC's "Headstart" yesterday morning. "I'm not saying that I'm retiring, pero siguro may fight pa na isa before the elections, and then… Ready na siguro (to retire) dahil ang tagal ko na sa boxing. More than 20 years na ako sa boxing,” the Filipino added.
Pacquiao said that he'll have one more fight in early 2016 and will then focus on his political career. The current Sarangani Province congressman is running for senator in next year's elections.
Pacquiao could see action in February, March or April. Some of the names of possible opponents are his former sparring partner Amir Khan and unbeaten World Boxing Organization (WBO) light welterweight king Terrence Crawford.
Pacquiao's last fight was a unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He suffered a shoulder injury prior to the fight and was sidelined for the rest of the year.
Mayweather Jr. retired just last month after a unanimous decision win over Andre Berto.
But despite Mayweath- er Jr. currently enjoying retirement, Pacquiao didn't close the doors to a possible rematch.
“Hindi natin masabi kung may rematch o wala. Depende, depende," he said.
If Pacquiao decides to retire, he will end an impressive boxing career with a record of 57-6-2, including 38 knockouts. He will forever be remembered for his exciting style of boxing that has a mix of aggression and speed. He has also fought a who's who of names in boxing — the likes of Mayweather Jr., Oscar dela Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.