Photo from TheDailySportsHerald
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao decided to hang up his gloves as he announced his retirement in boxing last September 29 a few weeks after he failed to reclaim the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight title due to a unanimous decision loss to Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas last August 22.
“I will never forget what I’ve done and accomplished in my life and I can’t imagine I just heard the final bell. Tapos na ang boxing,” signaling an end to his 26-year professional boxing career.
Pacquiao’s professional boxing career debuted in 1995, starting as a junior flyweight at the age of 16. In 1998, he won his first world title, the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title.
He rose to fame in 2001 after defeating South African Lehlo Ledwaba via technical knockout in round six to claim the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight belt, his first fight in the United States and under hall of fame trainer Freddie Roach.
During his golden years, the eight-division world champion demolished Mexicans Érik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Márquez twice, Antonio Margarito, Americans Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley, British Ricky Hatton and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto who are world champions.
In 2015, the so-called Fight of the Century transpired, he ended up losing to undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr via unanimous decision.
In the last few years of his career, he racked up four wins and a WBA super welterweight crown versus Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Argentinian Lucas Matthysse and American Keith Thurman.
He drew the curtains on his career withholding an incredible feat as the only boxer to win world titles in eight different weight classes, scoring 62 wins with 39 knockouts, 8 losses and 2 draws. The boxing icon may have not ended his legendary career on a high note, but his legacy will prevail.
Pambansang Kamao battled Errol Spence Jr's replacement Ugas in his final bout and bid goodbye to the boxing world to focus on his presidential run. The 42-year old Pacquiao who was elected as a senator in 2016, officially entered the presidential race after filing the Certificate of Candidacy last October 1.