Manny Pacquiao Set to Retire in 2016, Will Focus on Senate Bid
Manny Pacquiao is set to retire by 2016 according to the boxing superstar who is currently training for his next fight against Chris Algieri on November 23 in Macau.
The 35-year-old made the revelation via an interview in a local channel in the Philippines.
“There’s a big possibility that I will run for Senator. UNA asked me to join its slate and I am grateful they picked me,” said Pacquiao said to Anthony Taberna, the host of the show.
United Nationalist Alliance or UNA is a political party in the Philippines and joining the alliance will pave way for Pacquaio’s senatorial bid. If the political plan comes into fruition, Pacquiao will most likely focus on the 2016 polls and if elected, to concentrate on being a senator rather than being a professional boxer.
Pacquiao is currently a representative/congressman from the Saranggani Province in General Santos, his hometown in the south of the Philippines.
By 2016, Pacquiao will turn 38 years old and will have fought nearly 70 professional fights. The Pacman made his pro debut on January 25, 1995.
Calls for a retirement from the sport hit a high after his embarrassing knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8, 2012. The Filipino has since bounced back with a pair of victories over Brandon Rios and Timothy Bradley albeit unconvincing wins via unanimous decision.
The eight-division world champion will most likely schedule another four fights—aside from the Algieri bout-- before he hangs up those gloves. From 2009 to 2012, the fighting congressman has fought twice a year. In 2013 he fought only once owing to the long rest needed after the scary KO against Marquez.
With four or less bouts left, could one of the final fights for the Filipino be against Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
Even for a busy man like Pacquiao, who aside from being a congressman is also a singer/songwriter/actor/host and lately even a basketball head coach/player, a fight with the undefeated American is still a possibility before the Filipino’s retirement in 2016.