Boxing Rumors 2016: Manny Pacquiao Insists He'll Retire After Bradley Bout
The Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight last May 2015 will be in the record books for being the most lucrative fight ever, but the action promised before the fighter was never delivered. And quite interestingly, the two protagonists in that historic boxing fight are turning their backs on the sport, not because they no longer love it but because father time has caught up with them.
Everyone knows Mayweather is already retired, or that's what he's saying. On the other hand, Pacquiao is saying he is fighting his last one this coming April against a familiar foe — Timothy Bradley.
When a fighter is 37 in boxing, it is already considered old age, unless of course you're Bernard Hopkins. Pacquiao is no longer young, but that alone is not the reason why he is insisting that the trilogy against Bradley is his last one. For one, his last fight against "Money" didn't impress compared to his previous fights.
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He also has been plagued with issues outside the ring like his involvement in Philippine politics. As a member of the country's legislative branch, the "Pacman" finds time to go to sessions and the gym to train. Perhaps his body and mind are no longer that capable of multi-tasking.
In Tuesday's presser to promote the fight, the Filipino boxing great told reporters that he will be devoting his time to a flourishing political career in his country. As a matter of fact, he is running for Senate, with the elections scheduled in May.
With that kind of schedule, it's confusing to think about how Pacquiao manages his time in training for an April fight and a May election. Yes, they don't happen in the same month, but running for office in the Philippines means the candidate (Pacquiao) will be spending several months before the actual election date campaigning nationwide.
But no matter how he passionately insists retirement, the thought of a second fight with the undefeated Mayweather will never go away, especially if Pacquiao wins convincingly against Bradley. They made the biggest and most lucrative fight in boxing history in their first meeting and they earned money that no one else could earn in one night. Why not do it once again?
Even his promoter does not believe the "Pacman" will retire this year. He said that he's been with a lot of fighters in the past who were very firm in their decision to retire, only to come back just because they simply can't leave the only life they've been living and the sport they've come to embrace as part of them. Pacquiao started fighting at such a young age. And although he won't admit it, it's pretty difficult (and sad) to just leave.
