Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — The “Pambansang Kamao” is hanging up his gloves.
Senator Manny Pacquiao officially announced his retirement from boxing in a taped video on Wednesday.
He thanked his wife Jinkee and his parents as well as boxing fans the world over.
“It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over. Today, I am announcing my retirement,” Pacquiao said in the video where, at times, it appeared he was getting emotional.
Pacquiao also mentioned young, promising boxers who he said were full of hope and could bring honor to the country.
Pacquiao’s last fight was against Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas. The August 22 match in Las Vegas ended in defeat for Pacquiao via a unanimous decision.
“Sila naman po ang ating tulungan,” he said.
Earlier this month, Pacquiao announced he would run for president in the 2022 polls, accepting the nomination from the PDP-Laban camp which he co-leads with Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
[Translation: It is time we help them.]
Humble beginnings
The road to sports stardom did not come easy to the boxer from General Santos City. As one of six children, he moved to Manila when he was just a teenager to work and earn money which he would send to his family.
He tried to make it to the Olympics, but did not become part of the national team. In his speech, Pacquiao said he was then accepted by the Davao del Sur boxing team.
Years later, however, Pacquiao became the country’s flag bearer in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
His first coach, Rod Nazario, brought him to the US where he met his coach Freddie Roach.
“Freddie Roach was not only my trainer, but also my family — a brother and a friend,” he said.
He won his first title in 1998 against Chatchai Sasakul, earning the WBC flyweight title when he was 18 years old. Pacquiao earned the WBA super welterweight title in 2019 against Keith Thurman. He was 40 years old, and it would be the last title he would win. In 2021, he lost to Yordenis Ugas.
In his speech, Pacquiao looked back on his struggles and overcoming adversities to rise to the top.
“Thank you for changing my life. When my family was desperate, you gave us hope. You gave me the chance to fight our way out of poverty. Because of you, I was able to inspire people all over the world. Because of you, I have been given the courage to change more lives,” he said.
Pacquiao signed off by expressing his gratitude.
“I just heard the final bell…tapos na ang boxing. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.”
[Translation: I just heard the final bell…the boxing is over. Thank you very much to you all.]
