Superstar and all-time great Manny Pacquiao may not have too much time left in the boxing ring. Pac-Man, for a while now having been heavily and passionately involved in politics, has gone on record stating how he is thinking of quitting the squared circle and running for senator in 2016.
Speaking with DZMM, the 35-year-old icon and hero to millions had the following to say:
“There’s a big possibility that I will run for senator. UNA asked me to join its slate and I am grateful they picked me.”
Boxing fans do not want Pacquiao’s fantastically entertaining career to end, yet the political world wants Manny and it seems there could be just a few fights left for the southpaw dynamo who has already achieved so much as a fighter. The first thing many fans may think of with regards to how long Pacquiao has left in the ring is, will a clash with Floyd Mayweather – the only serious rival to Pac-Man’s dominance as this era’s finest pound-for-pound boxer – ever happen. Of course, so many of us gave up on that match-up ever taking place a long time ago. Still, how sad and disappointing would it be if the two megastars both exited the ring having never tested themselves against one another?
If Pacquiao does call it quits in 2016, it figures he might have something like four fights left. Pac-Man faces the unbeaten but largely unknown Chris Algieri next, in a WBO welterweight title defence in November. Then, assuming the slick, defensive minded boxer doesn’t score the upset (as Algieri did when he controversially out-pointed Ruslan Provodnikov in his biggest win to date), Pacquiao could face the likes of: Juan Manuel Marquez in a fifth fight, Amir Khan (unlikely but Khan has spoken of taking the fight), Provodnikov, and, maybe, just maybe, Mayweather.
It would be a fantastic way for Manny to go out if he did lock horns with Mayweather in his final outing; even more so if he defeated “Money” and took away his zero. As things stand, however, Pacquiao has done more than enough to be able to walk away on his own terms, his head held forever high.
What are Pacquiao’s biggest and best wins; here’s a look back at some of Pac-Man’s highlights:
TKO 11 Marco Antonio Barrera, 2003. Manny burst well and truly onto the world stage with this stunning and ruthless display.
TKO10 Erik Morales, 2006. In a return meeting with the man who had out-pointed him the previous year, Pacquiao stopped Morales and soon had a reputation as a “Mexecutioner.”
D12, W12, W12, LKO by 6 Juan Manuel Marquez, 2004 to 2012 (and beyond?) Pacquiao more than had his hands full against this Mexican great, and the series captured massive fan attention. Both guys brought the best out in each other and fans everywhere would love another instalment.
RTD8 Oscar De La Hoya, 2008 This one was a shocker at the time and the win over the Golden Boy transformed Manny from star to superstar.
KO2 Ricky Hatton, 2009. Pacqiao’s most brutal KO win? Very possibly. At this point in time, it looked like Pacquiao might never lose again. And one particular star wanted no part in finding out!
TKO12 Miguel Cotto, 2009. The way Pac-Man went through the formidable Puerto Rican added plenty to the southpaw’s already huge credentials. Pacquiao had arguably reached his very peak by the time of this brutal display of speed and power.
