SPORTS SHORTS 229: THANK YOU FOR THE BOXING, MANNY PACQUIAO (PART I)
By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Wed, 29 Sep 2021
Manny Pacquiao posted on his Twitter: "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. Good bye boxing."
* * *
"It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over," he said on his retirement video over Facebook. "Today, I am announcing my retirement. I never thought that this day would come. 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. Thank you for changing my life," Pacquiao said. "You gave me the chance to find a way out of poverty. Because of you, I was able to inspire people all over the world. Because of you, I have been given the courage to change more life.
* * *
"I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life. I can't imagine that I have just heard the final bell."
* * *
He announced his retirement just 79 days before his 43rd birthday. It was 39 days after his final fight, a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas.
* * *
“I will never forget what I’ve done and accomplished in my life and I can’t imagine I just heard the final bell. Tapos na ang boxing (boxing is over),” the world's only fighting incumbent senator and presidentiable said.
He will focus on his presidential candidacy after accepting the PDP-LABAN Pimentel faction nomination. He will be engaging on his greatest fight outside the boxing ring.
* * *
“Very proud and excited to hear of Manny’s run for President in the Philippines for 2022. All the best to you, Manny-truly the Fighting Pride of the Philippines AND The People’s Champ @MannyPacquiao,” Freddie Roach posted on his Twitter.
* * *
"Freddie Roach was not only my trainer, but also my family -- a brother and a friend," he said in his farewell message.
* * *
“Manny Pacquiao is from the one of the poorest families,” Pacquiao once told Inquirer Sports. “I slept in the streets, a flatted-out box serving as my bed, waking up to the noise of passing cars. I’ve experienced eating nothing, passing the day with only water to drink, that was my life.”
* * *
"Thank you for changing my life. When my family was desperate, you gave us hope. You gave me the chance to fight our way out of poverty. Because of you, I was able to inspire people all over the world. Because of you, I have been given the courage to change more lives," he said in his social media video.
* * *
Pacquiao retires with a win-loss-draw record of 62-8-2 with 39 of his victories came by way of knockout.
* * *
Pacquiao is the only eight-division (octuple) world champion in the history of boxing and has won twelve major world titles.
* * *
He was the first boxer to win the lineal championship in five different weight classes, and the first boxer to win major world titles in four of the eight "glamor" or "original" divisions - flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.
* * *
He is the only boxer to win world championships in four decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s).
* * *
In July 20, 2019, Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight world champion 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 (Super) welterweight title.
* * *
Nine of his world championship belts were from the "Big Four" sanctioning bodies, the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO and three were from The Ring.
* * *
Manny Pacquiao won twelve titles against the following boxer opponents :
WBC flyweight - Thailand's Chatchai Sasakul, 8th round KO
IBF super bantamweight - South Africa's Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, 6th roundTKO
The Ring featherweight - Mexico's Marco Antonio Barrera, 11th round TKO
WBC super featherweight and The Ring Super featherweight - Mexico's Juan Manuel Márquez, split decision
WBC lightweight - United States' David Díaz, 9th round TKO
The Ring light welterweight - United Kingdom's Ricky Hatton, 2nd round KO
WBO welterweight - Puerto Rico's Miguel Ángel Cotto, 12th round TKO
WBC light middleweight - Mexico's Antonio Margarito, unanimous decision
WBO welterweight - United States' Timothy Bradley, unanimous decision
WBO welterweight - United States' Jessie Vargas, unanimous decision
WBA (Super) welterweight - United States' Keith Thurman, split decision
