Thank you to the world's greatest boxing fans and the greatest sports, thank you guys! Thanks for all the good memories, it was the toughest decision I've ever made, but I felt calm about it. Chase your dreams, work hard, and see what happens? Goodbye Boxing!
After two weeks of "rehearsals" for his retirement, Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement for the second time, this time officially, completely, thus sealing his 26-year career at the age of 42.
Sadly, Pacquiao (62-8-1, 39KO) hung up his sleeve after losing to Cuban boxer Jodenis Ugas, which felt unsatisfactory. A two-year veteran who has been away from the game, Pacquiao lost by a consistent number of points in his clash with Ugas last month, after which he blamed the defeat on leg cramps, which Pacquiao is likely to win if there are no problems in the legs.
Pacquiao's original opponent was not Ugas, but the first-line star boxer Errol Spence, just when the outside world was looking forward to the two clashes, Spence withdrew from the battle due to an eye injury less than two weeks away from the confrontation. After Spence withdrew, Pacquiao did not give up on plans to play that day, he agreed to face Ugas on the bench, which now seems to be a wrong move, because Pacquiao did not have time to prepare for Ugas, and this drawback was revealed in the game, so that Pacquiao was bombarded by Ugas all night and could not extricate himself.
In fact, very few boxers leave as winners in this sport because they don't want to leave if they win. Nowadays, the retirement of boxers is regarded as a long "holiday", just like Floyd Mayweather, who came back after a few years of retirement for a series of exhibition matches, as long as boxing fans are willing to spend money to watch these boxers "cross-border confrontations" with Internet celebrities and MMA fighters, maybe one day, Pacquiao will follow in Mayweather's footsteps, but this is Pacquiao's own choice.
Pacquiao has decided to run in the 2022 Philippine presidential election, and for him he cannot juggle the training and competition required as a boxer. In December this year, Pacquiao will celebrate his 43rd birthday, he realized that he needs a new life, not to stick to the professional boxing world, according to relevant media reports, Pacquiao's wealth is about 220 million US dollars, he does not need to stay on the field like some boxers to fight.
The three records Pacquiao set may never be broken: he is the only boxer to date to win eight different divisions; he is the only boxer to date who has won all four different eras; he is the oldest world champion in the 147-pound welterweight to date, and he was 42 years old when he finally defended his gold belt.
The best win of Pacquiao's career came from these boxers – Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, Miguel Couto, Rich Hatton, Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Joa, Sean Mosley, Timothy Bradley, Adrian Brona, Keith Thurman...
Some boxing fans believe that when Pacquiao lost to Mayweather in 2015, he was more of a losing "winner" because he worked very hard, and if it were not for the fact that the opponent was Mayweather, Pacquiao would most likely have raised his hands. Pacquiao has repeatedly asked for a resumption of matches with Mayweather, but has been refused, even if Mayweather missed a huge gain, he is not willing to take risks to face Pacquiao again.
Many people feel that the reason why Mayweather is like this is because he knows that he cannot defeat Pacquiao for the second time, after all, after 2015, Mayweather, the degree of decline is more obvious, if he fights Pacquiao in the past 5 years, it is estimated that it is easy to lose, which Mayweather is not willing to accept in any way, although he is similar to Pacweao's age, but the state is on a different level.
Pacquiao said: "As an individual, I was amazed at what I had achieved, I had done an amazing job and it was hard for me to accept that my time as a boxer was over. Now, I announce my retirement, I didn't expect this day, when I hung up the boxing holster, I need to thank the whole world, thank them for their support of Pacquiao. ”
Well, Pacquiao as a boxer has turned around, getting farther and farther away from us, and boxing fans still hope that he will come back one day, such as making up for the unfinished battle with Spence, or giving Thurman a second chance. Unfortunately, these are more of the public's good expectations, as Pacquiao has made it clear that even if he loses the presidential election next year, he will not come back...
Thanks Pacquiao!