MANILA – Despite Manny Pacquiao’s own declaration that his boxing career is “tapos na,” one of his close aides claimed that the Filipino ring icon’s pronouncement is “not yet final.”
MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons said on Tuesday in an interview with Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports that Pacquiao’s decision regarding his boxing career will come in the coming weeks.
The 42-year-old Pacquiao stated during his guesting on actress/host Toni Gonzaga’s “Toni Talks” vlog that his boxing career was “tapos na.” Rather than that, he would concentrate on encouraging younger Filipino boxers.
“‘Yung boxing career ko, tapos na. Matagal na rin ako sa pagbo-boxing,” he stated on Monday. “‘Yung pamilya ko, lagi sinasabi na tama na. Nagtuloy-tuloy lang ako kasi passionate ako sa sport na ito.”
The Filipino boxing legend had already dropped hints to hang up his gloves following his loss to World Boxing Association’s welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas last month.
Pacquiao’s boxing career began with a four-round bout against Edmund Enting Ignacio in January 1995 at Sablayan.
He continued to dominate his subsequent battles, eventually winning world titles at flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, super welterweight, and bantamweight.
Along the way, he defeated fellow boxing legends like Oscar dela Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, Oscar Larios, Ricky Hatton, Timothy Bradley, Adrien Broner, and Keith Thurman.
Pacquiao also lost to American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jeff Horn, and Ugas.
He currently has 62 victories (39 by way of stoppage), eight defeats, and two draws./PN
