Sen. Manny Pacquiao announced on Wednesday, September 29, that he will retire from professional boxing after 26 years of fighting in the ring.
The retirement of Pacquiao came after the sole eight-division world boxing champion officially accepted the nomination of a faction in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to run for President in the 2022 elections.
"It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over. Today, I am announcing my retirement. I never thought that this time will come," Pacquiao said in a 14-minute video posted on his Facebook account.
"Goodbye boxing. Thank you for changing my life. When my family was desperate, you give us hope. You give me the chance to fight our 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," he added.
The 42-year old senator has juggled Boxing with his political career since being elected as a member of the House of Representatives for the lone district of Sarangani.
In his last fight on August 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, Pacquiao lost against Yourdenis Ugas, the reigning WBA Super welterweight champion, via unanimous decision.
Pacquiao, who has won 12 world boxing titles, ended his professional boxing career with a professional record of 62 wins, 39 knockouts, eight losses, and two draws.
