Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has had an impressive 26-year long career after playing in eight separate divisions, along with acquiring multiple championship belts. The 42-year-old athlete has been the recipient of the flyweight, featherweight, super featherweight, light welterweight, and welterweight titles throughout his 72 career fight log. His most recent match took place in Las Vegas, Nevada after a surprising loss against 35-year-old, Yordenis Ugás, by the judge’s unanimous decision. The Filipino boxer ended his career with a total of 62 wins, eight losses, and two draws propelling him to be one of the most inspirational Filipino athletes to achieve their childhood dream.
Pacquiao forced 39 knockouts out of his 62 victories throughout his time in the World Boxing Association, before officially announcing his retirement from the game this past Tuesday, September 28, 2021. He declared the news through a 15-minute Instagram video that embodies the heartfelt journey and struggles that the fighter has had to overcome. Accompanied by the simple caption, “Goodbye Boxing,” Pacquiao put together boxing clips from when he was just beginning and compared them to his most recent matches in order to show young children with a dream that anything can be turned into a reality.
He also released a statement to his Twitter feed that read: “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. Goodbye boxing.” Pacquiao looks to transfer his energy toward the current problems in the Republic of the Philippines as he recently made the announcement that he will be in the running to become their President in 2022. Peers, fans, and former opponents have already wished the athlete the bust of luck in all of his future political endeavors.