Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao says goodbye to boxing, the sport that gave him billions of money and made him a celebrity worldwide when he accepted the party nomination for presidential candidate in the 2022 national elections.
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He told actress Toni Gonzaga in local dialect that his career is over on her YouTube program Toni Talks last Sunday. "It's over because I've been in boxing for a long time and my family says that it is enough. I just continued to box because I'm very passionate about the sport."
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Pacquiao clarified however he will not be leaving boxing totally as he will continue guiding the career of promising Pinoy boxers who wish to follow his footsteps. "I will just support other boxers for us to have a champion again."
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The eight-division world champion, through his MP Manny Pacquiao Promotions headed by Sean Gibbons, has promoted the fights of internationally rated Filipino fighters.
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The members of the MP camp are World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero and International Boxing Federation super flyweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas.
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Included in the stable are undefeated world rated featherweight Mark Magsayo, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, and world super flyweight contender Jonas Sultan.
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Senator Manny Pacquiao announced that he is hanging up his gloves ending his colorful boxing career which includes twelve world titles in eight weight categories.
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Pacquiao, earlier after his loss to Yordenis Ugas, said that he will make an official announcement on what he will do with his career and his decision for the 2022 elections.
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There were different options discussed on whether Pacquiao was going for a rematch with Ugas or he will settle for an easier opponent or completely retire from boxing. He decided to choose the latter because a presidential campaign needs full time commitment.
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A recent move by the World Boxing Association made the awaited rematch with Ugas next to impossible after a two-stage box-off was ordered to select a lone WBA welterweight champion, with Ugas facing No. 1 contender Eimantas Stanionis of Lithuania.
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While WBA world welterweight champion Jamal James taking on Radzhab Butaev of Russia, with the winners fighting off for the one WBA welterweight title belt. This could also be one reason for Pacquiao’s retirement.
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If he would run for reelection as a senator he will win smooth sailing and his only problem would be to get the No. 1 position. But he has already thrown his hat to the derby for the highest position of the land.
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The presidential run is perhaps the greatest fight Pacquiao has ever faced. He will be sharing the opposition votes with other presidential bets Senator Panfilo Lacson and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno against a single administration candidate.
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After his nomination as the PDP-Laban faction's official candidate for president he said, "Yes, I accept. I'm a fighter and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring. All my life, there was no fight I backed out from."
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We may not be aligned politically but he remains my idol in boxing.
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Manny Pacquiao's twelve world titles in eight weight divisions:
WBC flyweight champion
IBF super bantamweight champion
WBC super featherweight champion
WBC lightweight champion
WBO welterweight champion (3 times)
WBA (Regular) welterweight champion
WBA (Super) welterweight champion
WBC super welterweight champion
IBO light welterweight champion
The Ring featherweight champion
The Ring super featherweight champion
The Ring light welterweight champion
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Manny Pacquiao's Major Awards and Honors:
Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Decade 2000–2009
HBO Fighter of the Decade 2000–2009
World Boxing Council Boxer of the Decade 2001–2010
World Boxing Organization Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter of the Decade 2001–2010
Boxing Writers Association of America's Fighter of the Year 2006, 2008 and 2009
ESPN Fighter of the Year 2006, 2008 and 2009
The Ring Fighter of the Year 2006, 2008 and 2009
World Boxing Hall of Fame Fighter of the year 2007
Sports Illustrated Boxer of the Year 2008
Yahoo! Sports Fighter of the Year 2008
ESPN Star's Champion of Champions 2008 and 2009
World Boxing Council Boxer of the Year 2008 and 2009
The Ring No.1 Pound-for-Pound (year-end) 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
ESPN Knockout of the Year (in Round 2 against Ricky Hatton) 2009
ESPY Awards Best Fighter 2009 and 2011
Forbes magazine World's Highest-Paid Athletes (ranked 6th and 2nd) 2009 and 2015
Sports Illustrated Fighter of the Year 2009
The Ring Knockout of the Year (in Round 2 against Ricky Hatton) 2009
TIME 100 Most Influential People (Heroes and Icons Category) 2009
Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 (The World's Most Powerful Celebrity) (ranked 57th, 55th, 33rd and 2nd) 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2015
World Boxing Organization Fighter of the Year
Yahoo! Sports Boxing's Most Influential (ranked 25th) 2010
The Ring Magazine Event of the year 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015
Las Vegas Walk of Stars Awardee 2011
Guinness World Records Most boxing world titles in different weight divisions (8 times; since November 13, 2010) 2011
Laredo Asian Association Special Recognition Award 2012
On The Ropes Boxing Awards Comeback Fighter of the Year 2013
The Ring magazine Comeback of the Year 2013
Reader's Digest Asia Pacific Most Trusted Sports Personality 2014, 2015 and 2016
On The Ropes Boxing Awards Fighter of the Year
PublicAffairsAsia HP Gold Standard Award for Communicator of the Year 2014
Asia Society's Asia Game Changer of the Year 2015
Forbes magazine Boxing's MVPs (ranked 4th) 2016
Forbes magazine Highest Paid Athletes of the Decade (ranked 8th) 2019
World Boxing News Fighter of the year 2019
National 2019
Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Decade 2000–2009
Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Memorial Boxer of the Decade 2000–2009
Gabriel "Flash" Elorde Memorial Boxer of the Year 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007
PSA Sportsman of the Year 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008
Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Decade 2010-2019
Source : Wikipedia
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