Manny Pacquiao has confirmed his retirement from boxing, following his defeat to Yordenis Ugas last month.
Pacquiao announced on Sunday that he would be running to become President of the Philippines during next year’s election.
The eight-division champion was undecided after losing to Ugas in Las Vegas whether that would be his final time in the ring, but the 42-year-old has now confirmed that he has pulled the curtain on his decorated career.
“My boxing career is over,” Pacquiao said during an interview on Toni Gonzaga Studio.
“It’s over already. I’ve been boxing for a long time already and my family would always tell me to stop.
“I just kept going because I’m so passionate about boxing.
“But now, I’ll just support boxers so that we can have a champion again.
“You can’t say, ‘this is the next Manny Pacquiao.’
“Manny Pacquiao is just a manifestation, he is owned by the Lord.”
Pacquiao made his return to the ring after a two-year lay-off to face Ugas for the WBA ‘super’ welterweight crown, but looked out of sorts in a unanimous decision loss.
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‘Pacman’ made his professional debut in 1995 and won his first world title at flyweight three years later.
Pacquiao claimed his second world honour in 2001 winning the IBF super bantamweight title with a sixth round knockout over the late Lehlo Ledwaba on his Las Vegas debut.
During the early 2000’s, he developed some of his greatest rivalries with the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, who he fought twice, Erik Morales who he had three battles with and Juan Manuel Marquez, who he was knocked out cold by during their fourth meeting in 2012.
Pacquiao was famed for his blistering speed, reflexes and power which carried up through the weights and saw him record famous victories over the likes of Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Oscar De La Hoya.
The long-awaited ‘Fight Of The Century’ clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr finally happened in 2015, but failed to live up to the expectations it carried.
Pacquiao won five of his next six bouts, before facing Ugas including victory over Keith Thurman to become the oldest welterweight world champion in history, as well as a controversial loss to Jeff Horn.
The Filipino great retires with a record of 62 wins from his 71 fights with eight losses and two draws.
