Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has broken his promise to retire from boxing with his upcoming fight against Brandon Rios on November 23 in Macau, China. Almost exactly three years ago, Pacquiao told his colleagues in congress that he will retire in three years following his impressive win over Antonio Margarito in November 2010 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Pacquiao made history when he won titles in eight different weight classes which was capped by his victory over Margarito in the light middleweight division. After his victory, the lower house has awarded Pacquiao a congressional medal for his achievement in sports. He received a congressional medal for the second time. In his speech before his colleagues in congress, Pacquiao said he was inspired in the ring by the love for his country, and that his achievements show Filipinos can excel against all odds. ?My championship belt in the eighth weight division, the first in the history of boxing, shall forever cement the Filipino people as the eighth wonder of the world,? Pacquiao said. In the Senate or the upper house, Senator Francis Pangilinan filed Resolution 280 honoring Pacquiao as the greatest Filipino athlete of all time, having won eight world titles in eight different weight divisions in boxing. Read more: On November 23, Pacquiao will be facing Brandon Rios at the Venetian Resort and Casino in Macau, China. His three-year retirement promise expired last Nov.13, 2013, three years and 10 days after he fought Margarito in Texas on Nov. 13, 2010. Seemingly Pacquiao will continue to fight despite his two successive defeats against Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao will be facing a young and hungry fighter in Rios after almost a year of inactivity. Critics say Pacquiao will prevail over Rios, a Mexican-American who lost only once in his professional career. Rios is the former WBA lightweight champion and ranked No.6 in Ring’s pound-for-pound ranking. Read more. Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach said he will ask the eight-division champion to retire if he loses again. ?If he (Pacquiao) loses, I will tell him to retire,? Roach said. ?If you lose three in a row it?s your time. He?s up there in age (34). I’ve got to keep a close eye on him. It?s part of my job to protect him. I will do the right thing. I don’t want him to be a stepping stone (for other fighters).? But what if Pacquiao ends up with an impressive win against Rios? Obviously Roach will allow him to fight once more and if he wins again, he may just allow Pacquiao to continue fighting until he loses again.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/353558#ixzz2XvjEAFel
