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| Manny Pacquiao insisted he is now a retired boxer. AP (file photo) |
MANILA—Manny Pacquiao has shut down any talk of a boxing comeback as he ramps up his presidential run.
In an interview with GMA News' Jessica Soho, the former eight-division world champion reiterated that he is now retired from the sport that made him a modern-day Philippine sports superstar.
"Nag-announce na po ako ng formal retirement. Tapos na po yun," Pacquiao said in the interview, which was aired on Saturday night.
On Sept. 29, 2021, Pacquiao announced in a video message that he is calling it quits after a potential Hall of Fame boxing career that ran for 26 years since 1995.
[Related Story: Manny Pacquiao says 'Goodbye boxing']
However, the incumbent senator juggled his acts both as an athlete and a legislator in the latter years of his boxing career, which triggered concerns that he might un-retire and play the sport again while leading the nation assuming he wins the presidential seat.
What further factored in this situation was that Pacquiao, then a congressman representing Sarangani, first retired after his trilogy match win against Tim Bradley on April 10, 2016 (Philippine Time), barely a month before he would be voted as senator, only to make a comeback seven months later and beat Jesse Vargas for the WBO welterweight title.
The 43-year-old Pacquiao insisted that his "second" retirement is final.
"Yun po ang pinaka-sign na tapos na po yung boxing career ko," Pacquiao continued, pertaining to his video message.
Pacquiao last fought on Aug. 22, 2021 (Philippine Time) in a losing effort to Yordenis Ugas for the WBA welterweight super title.
Pacquiao initially thought of a rematch against Ugas for this month, but the former eventually decided to call it a career a week after announcing his presidential bid.
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