Manny Pacquiao Retiring To Run For Philippines Presidency

Is he actually going to hang up the gloves to run for President of his home country of the Philippines? Well, if you believe Manny Pacquiao from Wednesday morning, his Hall of Fame to be a career is over…..we think.

Pacquiao made the announcement just over a week after accepting the nomination to run for President of the Philippines next May. It also comes just over a month after Pacquiao’s last fight (for the moment)- a 12 round decision defeat to WBA Welterweight champ Yordenis Ugas.

“To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you! Thank you for all the wonderful memories. This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but I’m at peace with it. Chase your dreams, work hard, and watch what happens. Good bye boxing,” Pacquiao said on social media Wednesday morning in the Philippines.

To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you! Thank you for all the wonderful memories. This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but I’m at peace with it. Chase your dreams, work hard, and watch what happens. Good bye boxing. https://t.co/Bde4wO82sA

— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) September 29, 2021

As we wrote previously about “Pac man’s” political aspirations, he made the announcement Sunday, September 19th on social media, declaring officially that he is accepting the LBD Laban party’s nomination at their convention earlier in the day,

I boldly accept the challenge of running as PRESIDENT of the Philippines. We need progress. We need to win against poverty. We need government to serve our people with integrity, compassion and transparency. The time is now. I am ready to rise to the challenge of leadership. 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/suN1zFTxyW

— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) September 19, 2021

“I boldly accept the challenge of running as PRESIDENT of the Philippines. We need progress. We need to win against poverty. We need government to serve our people with integrity, compassion and transparency. The time is now. I am ready to rise to the challenge of leadership,” Pacquiao said in the post.

At nearly 43 years of age Pacquiao is being championed to help restore some stability to the Philippines, which has been ravaged by Covid 19 and economic corruption. The current President, Rodrigo Duterte, cannot seek re-election as his six-year term is ending.

We wondered if it would be possible that with the election coming in May of next year, that Pacquiao could still squeeze in one more bout early in 2022 if he wanted? Would that be a rematch with Ugas? Would he perhaps try to fight Errol Spence, who had to withdraw from their bout with a detached retina and left eye surgery?

Again, at least for now, it appears the end of the Pacquiao fighting career that saw him defeat the likes of Marco Antonio Barerra, Erik Morrales, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, and Miguel Cotto.

Then, again, Pacquiao could still follow the long list of all-time greats to announce he’s retiring, and yet fight on, in this case, in his early to mid-40s.