Sen. Manny Pacquiao is done with boxing.
The 42-year-old fighting senator said this hours after accepting a nomination from his political allies to run for the presidency of the Philippines next year.
Pacquiao talked about his decision to hang his gloves during a 27-minute, one-on-one interview on “Toni Talks”, the vlog of actress Toni Gonzaga on Youtube.
“(Ang) boxing career ko, tapos na ang boxing career ko,” said Pacquiao, who is the only eight-division world champion in the history of boxing and has won 12 major world titles.
Pacquiao said he has been into boxing for 30 years since he was introduced to the sport at the age of 12.
The decision to end his career comes a month after he absorbed a unanimous decision loss to Cuban Yordenis Ugas, who retained his World Boxing Association welterweight title.
Pacquiao used to hold the crown, but he was stripped of his belt for failing to defend it last year.
“Kasi matagal na naman ako sa pagbo-boxing at ang pamilya ko, sabi nila, tama na,” said Pacquiao, who turned pro at age 16.
“Nagtuloy-tuloy lang ako, kasi, passion ko ito,” said Pacquiao.
Now that he has formed a boxing outfit called MP Promotions, Pacquiao said he will focus helping aspiring and promising boxers in their development.
“Magsu-support na lang ako ng mga boksingero para magkaroon tayo ng champion ulit,” said Pacquiao.
And he does not want the next Filipino boxing icon be known as the new Manny Pacquiao.
“Hindi puwedeng sabihin na next Manny Pacquiao. Dahil ang Manny Pacquiao ay hindi tungkol sa kanyang sarili, kungdi sa Panginoon,” said Pacquiao, adding that it was God, who gave him the blessings to be a good fighter when he was just starting out.
He has record of 62–7–2 as a professional, with 39 wins by knockout.
“Sino ang mag-aakala magkakaroon ako ng accomplishment na ganu’n? Mula sa isang batang nagtitinda ng pandesal na magiging world champion, at makikilala sa mundo bilang 8-division champion. (Kung) Sabihin ko ito nu’ng bata pa ako, walang maniniwala. But with God, all things are possible,” added Pacquiao.