Boxing's only eight-division champion and sure-fire future Hall of Famer announced his retirement on Tuesday during a video he posted on social media.
The legendary Manny Pacquiao has decided to hang up the gloves for good.
Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion and one its classiest warriors, announced his retirement Tuesday night through a 14-minute video he posted on his social media channels.
"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," Pacquiao said during the video. "It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over. Today I am announcing my retirement."
It’s been an amazing run for Pacquiao who, three months shy of his 43rd birthday, remained one of the most formidable welterweights in the world. Born Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao on December 17, 1978, in General Santos City, Philippines to Rosalio and Dionesia Dapidran-Pacquiao, a 14-year-old Pacquiao left his family on a ship to Manila. There, the youth survived on the streets for a short time before turning to boxing. He posted a 60-4 amateur record as a member of the Philippines’ National Team.
Pacquiao made his pro debut at age 16 in the 106-pound weight division. On December 4, 1998, he won his first world title, capturing the WBC flyweight (112-pounds) title with an eighth-round stoppage win over Thailand’s Chatchai Sasakul.
This would be the first of his 12 major world titles. Pacquiao was the first boxer to win the lineal championship in five different weight classes, the first boxer to win major world titles in four of the eight "glamour divisions" (flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight) and is the only boxer to hold world championships across four decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s).
In July 2019, Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight world champion in history at the age of 40, and the first boxer in history to become a recognized four-time welterweight champion after defeating Keith Thurman to win the WBA world welterweight title.
Pacquiao finished his 26-year, 72-fight career with a record of 62-8-2 (39 KOs).
But the accolades don’t stop there. In May 2010, Pacquiao was elected to the House of Representatives in the 15th Congress of the Philippines, representing the province of Sarangani. In 2013 he was re-elected to the 16th Congress of the Philippines. Then in May 2016, Pacquiao was formally elected as a senator by the Commission on Elections.
Earlier this month, Pacquiao accepted his political party’s nomination and declared that he will run for president of the Philippines in the May 2022 elections.
The Premier Boxing Champions family would like to congratulate Manny Pacquiao on being a champion inside and outside the ring. We wish him well in all future endeavors and thank him for the wonderful memories that will remain a part of boxing lore forever.
For a closer look at Manny Pacquiao, check out his fighter page.
- Topics
- Manny Pacquiao
