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Manny Pacquiao Officially Retires From Boxing

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The great Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao has officially announced his retirement from boxing. The former eight-division world champion posted a 14-minute, 20-second video titled “Good bye boxing” on his social media accounts early Wednesday.

“To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you! Thank you for all the wonderful memories,” Pacquiao posted along with a link to his video. “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’s Last Stand

Recently, Pacquiao announced his intention to run for president of the Philippines, as the sitting senator is considered a national hero. The anticipated announcement comes as no surprise to the boxing world.

Pacquiao, 42, lost his last professional boxing match. “Pac-Man” suffered an upset unanimous decision loss challenging Yordenis Ugas for his welterweight world title on Aug. 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

His original opponent was the current welterweight king, Errol Spence Jr., who had to back out due to an eye injury. The fight would have been the biggest to make for his career; however, Pacquiao still fought, although Ugas was a relatively unknown threat.

However, Father Time caught up to Pacquiao in the Ugas fight as the highly active boxer looked like he lost a step or two in the bout.

Gave It All To The Game

“Boxing has always been my passion. I was given the opportunity of representing the Philippines, bringing fame and honor to my country every time I entered the ring,” Pacquiao said in the video. “I am grateful for all of my accomplishments and the opportunity to inspire the fans.”

The farewell video included highlights from Pacquiao’s 26-year-year career. It also had thank you messages to many of the people involved in his career through the years.

Pacquiao has a strong foothold also in America through fighting brilliantly in the States and training in Hollywood, California, with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

The two have worked together since June 2001. Pacquiao, who was on vacation in San Francisco, took a bus to Los Angeles searching for a gym. Pacquiao showed up at Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club, and they hit it off immediately.

The pair won a junior featherweight world title together a few weeks later.

“Freddie Roach was not only my trainer but also my family, a brother and a friend.”

Legendary Status

Pacquiao is the only fighter to win a world title in eight weight classes. He fought the best of his generation and beat most of them. Although he lost controversially to Tim Bradley and Jeff Horn and definitely to Juan Manuel Marquez, Floyd Mayweather, and Yordenis Ugas, he is the essence of a throwback fighter.

His recent wins over today’s generation of top athletes like Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman showed his striving ability throughout the ages.

Additionally, Pacquiao fought the boxing match of the century against Mayweather. Although the fight did not meet many fans’ expectations action-wise, it reigns as the most-watched pay-per-view boxing event of all time. The event garnered 4.6 million buys.

Pacquiao also sits right behind Mayweather (28,867,00) with the second-highest pay-per-view sales in history with 22,041,000 purchases.

Manny Pacquiao will go down in boxing history as a man who fought everyone and made himself a legend from the slums of the Sarangani Province. The man who rose to run for the highest seat in his country’s land gave all he had to a sport that loves none.

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