The famous Filipino boxer Manny pacquiaoThe 42-year-old presidential candidate for his country announced Wednesday that he was ending his decades-long career in the rings, the “most difficult” decision of his life.
“It’s hard for me to accept that my boxing career is over,” Manny Pacquiao said in a video message posted on Twitter: “Today I announce my retirement.”
The statement comes ten days after this legendary boxer, who became a national hero, ran for the May 2022 presidential election in the Philippines.
Manny Pacquiao, who grew up on the streets before becoming an international star, announced his candidacy a few weeks after his last professional fight, an August 22 loss in Las Vegas to the Cuban. Yordenis ugas.
He began his professional career in January 1995 with a bag of 1,000 pesos (19 euros) before amassing a fortune estimated at more than 500 million dollars.
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Pacquiao was a world champion in flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight. In 2015 he lost to Floyd mayweather in Las Vegas, in one of the most followed bouts in boxing history.
The boxer, married with five children, thanked his millions of fans around the world for their support. He also paid a special tribute to his coach Freddie roach, saying that she considers him a member of “my family, a brother, a friend”.
Manny Pacquiao entered politics in 2010, when he was elected as a deputy, before becoming a senator in 2016. He has at times sparked controversy over his statements in favor of the death penalty or against homosexuality.
Senator Manny Pacquiao wants to be the president of the Philippines now
But he is extremely popular in the archipelago of 110 million people, where his generosity and rise to success at being born into extreme poverty are deeply admired.