MANILA (AFP) ? World lightweight champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao of the Philippines is to hang up his gloves after three more fights and make another bid for political office, reports said Tuesday.
Pacquiao, considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world at any weight, has a mega-payday looming in December when he takes on legend Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds in a 12-round, non-title bout.
Reports said the 29-year-old has decided to retire in August next year to prepare for elections in May 2010.
Pacquiao will either run as a congressman representing his home province of Sarangani or as a local town official. Last year, he lost in a his first bid to be elected in congress.
“My parents want this to be my last fight. But I told them I can still fight around two more fights after De La Hoya. So maybe around July or August next year, that’s when I will retire,” Pacquiao told the Philipine Daily Inquirer.
He said his immediate concern now was to beat De La Hoya, who at 35 remains among the world’s best boxing draws.
“He was my idol when I was starting out. Now I can’t believe I am fighting him,” Pacquiao said. “To fight him is already a big honour. More so if I beat him.”
But more than honour, Pacquiao said, he wanted to alleviate the plight of poor in his southern home province and one way would be running for public office.
Pacquiao has officially joined President Gloria Arroyo’s political party.
From an impoverished background, Pacquiao went against all odds to become the most celebrated fighter ever from the Philippines. He has won belts in five different weight classes but has never fought above 135 pounds.
