SUPERMANNY
Legend Pacquiao retires from the brutal sport of boxing to pursue a career in the ruthless world of politics
MANNY PACQUIAO has sounded the final bell on one of boxing’s greatest careers.
Pacquiao has announced his retirement at 42 to concentrate on his political ambitions in his Philippines homeland after a record-breaking career.
He is the man who rewrote boxing’s history books during his 72 fights in his 26 years as a pro as he became the first eightdivision world champion.
When he lost to Yordenis Ugas last month, he admitted that the end might have come and he confirmed the news yesterday on social media.
“It’s difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over,” said Pacquiao. “I never thought that this day would come.
“Goodbye boxing. Thank you for changing my life. When my family was desperate, you gave us hope, you gave me the chance to fight my way out of poverty.
“Because of you, I was able to inspire people all over the world. Because of you I have been given the courage to change more lives. “I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life. I just heard the final bell. The boxing is over.” Pacquiao was born into poverty on the island of Mindanao and sold doughnuts by the roadside to help his mum support his two younger siblings.
Boxing saved him. The southpaw turned pro in January 1995 aged 17 and won his first world title three years later when he claimed the WBC flyweight crown.
His career took off when he teamed up with long-term trainer Freddie Roach (below) in 2001 and he made his US debut that year, winning the IBF superbantamweight title.
His CV reads like a boxing’s ‘who’s who’ and he beat everyone from Marco Antonio Barrera to Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez to Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto to Antonio Margarito.
Pacquiao, who finishes with a record 62-8-2 record, was unique in that he managed to increase his punch power and speed as he went up through the divisions. He stepped up to welterweight in 2008 where he then battered De La Hoya into submission before knocking out Hatton inside two rounds with a devastating left hook, which was arguably his finest KO punch.
The only fighter he could not beat was his nemesis, Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Their showdown in May 2015 was the richest in boxing history, grossing nearly £680million. Mayweather won by a unanimous decision. Pacquiao won his 12th and last world title, the WBA super-welterweight crown, against Keith Thurman in July 2019.
He has hung up his gloves to embrace a different fight (pictured, above, as senator Pacquiao at a senate hearing in Manila), the battle to become the Philippines’ president in next year’s elections.
Whatever he achieves in the ballot box, he will forever be known for his success in the ring.