Manny Pacquiao to retire in 2016 if elected senator in the Philippines: Bob Arum

Manny Pacquiao will return to fight in 2016 but it could be the Filipino’s last if he wins as a senator in the Philippine elections, according to boxing promoter Bob Arum.

"He's [going to] fight again next year but his goal is to become a senator in the Philippines, which he will be next year, and then to be president,” Arum, the founder of Top Rank Promotions which handles Pacquiao's fights, declared to TMZ.com. "I think Manny will retire once he's elected to the Senate of the Philippines which is next year ... he's [going to] hang up the gloves."

This is not the first time Arum has said that Pacquiao has plans for the presidency in his country. In April earlier this year, Arum said that the Filipino has plans on running for a senate seat in 2016 and for president in 2022.

Pacquiao is coming off a loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May 2, 2015 when he aggravated a shoulder injury and eventually needed surgery. The Filipino boxer is pegged to be out from six to nine months from the time of surgery before full recovery. Pacquiao is expected to be back in action in the early part of 2016.

Among the rumoured opponents for Pacquiao is British boxer Amir Khan in a fight possibly held in the Middle East, according to separate reports.

The election in the Philippines is scheduled on May 9, 2016. Pacquiao was elected to the House of Representatives in the 15th and 16th Congress of the Philippines in 2010 and 2013. Pacquiao has yet to announce his plans for the 2016 elections.

Watch the Arum interview below:

(YouTube/TMZSports)

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