Manny Pacquiao, the only eight-division champion in boxing history, is hanging his gloves and retiring from professional boxing. Pacquiao revealed his decision in a video posted on Instagram.
Pacquiao, who turns 43 in December, had his last fight in August against Yordenis Ugas. The boxing legend lost the fight via unanimous decision and lost his WBA (Super) welterweight title.
“It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over,” said Pacquiao. “Today, I am announcing my retirement. I never thought that this day would come. As I hang up my boxing gloves, I would like to thank the whole world, especially the Filipino people, for supporting Manny Pacquiao.”
Manny Pacquiao retires with a professional boxing record of 62 wins, eight losses, and two draws. He won twelve major world titles and is the only boxer to hold championship belts in four different decades. Pacquiao won his first title in 1997 at the age of 18 when he took the OPBF flyweight belt and followed this up with the WBC flyweight title win one year later. His most recent title, WBC flyweight, came in 2019 at the age of 40.
Following his retirement, Pacquiao is expected to focus on his political career. He already serves as a senator of the Philippines since 2016 and has confirmed he intends to run for president at the upcoming elections in 2022.
