Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is bidding boxing goodbye but not after five more fights.
Before his adopted province mate and members of the local press, Pacquiao said he sees himself retiring from boxing by 2013.
?Those who have not seen me fight, enjoy watching my fights while they last,? Pacquiao said.
The eight-division boxing champion has repeatedly said he already got what he wished for in life but added that he will continue to give his countrymen the kind of entertainment he is now dishing for as long as his body can endure.
But he said the time to hang up the gloves is drawing near.
At 31, Pacquiao is still in his prime.
Elite boxers are still very competitive even in their mid-30s. Pacquiao is considered the best in his generation and is listed as the number one pound for pound boxer in many boxing writers? list.
He recently annihilated Mexico?s Antonio Margarito to annex his eight boxing title in as many weight divisions.
Pacquiao has already earned more than US$50 million in purse Manny in all his previous fights.
He now commands at least US$15 million guaranteed purse every fight.
He also earns as a co-promoter of his fights and from other collaterals every time he steps up in the ring as well as from the numerous commercial endorsements.
He is listed as among the world?s top earning athletes behind only to such sports superstars Tiger Wood and Kobe Bryant, both Nike product endorsers like Pacquiao.
Before he retires for good, Manny could rake in US$50 million more, excluding a possible super fight with American Floyd Mayweather Jr which is expected to earn for each boxer another US$ 50 million.
Pacquiao also bared his plans to run again for the lone congressional district of Sarangani.
?I will just be 34 and a half (years old) by 2013,? he said as he ruled out running for higher elective post.
To run for senate, a candidate must be 35 years old by the time of the election.
Some are clamoring for him to run for vice president but the minimum age requirement is 40 years old. That would make Pacquiao ineligible for the presidency at least until 2022.
He could however run for senator in the Philippine in 2016.
