MANNY PACQUIAO has confirmed his retirement from boxing in an emotional farewell video to his legion of fans.
The former eight-weight world champion claimed his ‘boxing career is over’ a month removed from his unanimous decision defeat to Yordenis Ugas, although his manager was quick to dismiss that notion.
But the pride of the Philippines has now officially brought the curtain down on his Hall-of-Fame career.
Early on Wednesday morning, Pacquiao tweeted a video with the accompanying caption: “To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you!
“Thank you for all the wonderful memories. This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but I’m at peace with it.
“Chase your dreams, work hard, and watch what happens. Good bye boxing.”
In the video, an emotional Pacman said: “As I hang up my boxing gloves, I would like to thank the whole world, especially the Filipino people for supporting Manny Pacquiao. Goodbye boxing.
“It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over. Today I am announcing my retirement.”
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Fan favourite Pacquiao, 42, retires having won 62 of the 72 bouts in his professional career, which he began as a fresh-fashed 16-year-old.
But the soft-spoken power punch came up short in the biggest fight of his career against Floyd Mayweather in May 2015, suffering a unanimous decision defeat.
He continued: “Thank you for changing my life, when my family was desperate, you gave us hope, you gave me the chance to fight my 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.
“I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life that I can’t imagine.
“I just heard the final bell. Boxing is over.
“I never thought this day would come as a I hang up my boxing gloves.”
Pacquiao has hung up his gloves to focus on his presidential bid in his homeland.
After announcing his intention to run for office, the senator said: “I am a fighter, and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring.
“I am accepting your nomination as candidate for president of the Republic of the Philippines.”
And he doesn’t plan on pulling any punches when it comes to tackling the corruption plaguing his nation.
He said: “I am here for my countrymen and not myself. I want to fight for the rights of the poor.
“I want to rid the country of corruption while I’m in government.”
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