Manny Pacquiao announced Wednesday that he’s retiring from boxing at the age of 42. The now-former boxer will be focusing his time on politics.
Pacquiao also announced last week that he will be running for president in the 2022 Philippine elections.
“I am a fighter and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring. In my whole life, I have not backed out of a fight,” Pacquiao said while accepting the nomination to run for president at the PDP-Laban Party’s national assembly. “Because in the name of principle, the nation’s pride, I stand reaffirmed and strong. I am accepting your nomination as candidate for president of the Republic of the Philippines.”
Pacquiao has been a senator in his home country since 2016. The boxer was previously an ally of Rodrigo Duterte, the incumbent president who has been criticized for his brutal “war on drugs,” before the two fell out.
“To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you! Thank you for all the wonderful memories,” Pacquiao wrote in a Twitter message announcing his retirement from boxing. “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.”
He also posted a 14-minute video to Facebook, which you can watch below.
Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) is the only boxer to ever win world titles in eight divisions. The iconic boxer’s retirement announcement comes on the heels of his decision loss to Yordenis Ugas.
