calling it quits before facing Mayweather? Looks like it...
Manny Pacquiao, current welterweight boxing champion and pound for pound king, appears to be ready to give up boxing in the very near future, possibly after his June 9th fight with undefeated contender Tim Bradley. In a recent interview with MindaNews.com Pacquiao, who recently turned 33, hinted at his desire to leave boxing soon, maybe in 2012:
Pacquiao disclosed over the weekend that he is seriously leaning on retiring from boxing after his scheduled June 9 World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title fight against American brawler Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“It’s not right that I share God’s word and at the same time hurt other people,” he told reporters after gracing the oath-taking of newly-promoted personnel of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion in Maasim town in Sarangani.
“I’ve gained more than enough blessings these past years so I think it’s time for me to return the favor,” he said in Filipino.
Pacquiao recently sold his flock of over 1,000 fighting cocks (pause), his shares in a Manila casino as well as his ownership of a nightclub and was quoted as saying “I realize I was a weak person before. If I had died I believe my soul would have ended in hell. I had faith, but I was doing things which were against the will of God.”
This news may be a bit disheartening for boxing fans who were still holding out hope that Pacquiao would eventually face Floyd Mayweather Jr. before he hung up his gloves, but that fight is most likely never going to materialize. I commend Pacquiao for putting his faith before fortune and turning his life in a different, more positive direction.
To date Pacquiao has had an excellent career, winning titles in an unprecedented eight divisions. The southpaw has a career record of 54-3-2, including 38 wins by way of knockout. Pacquaio will go down as arguably one of the greatest pound for pound boxers of this generation.
H/T to our friends at Larry Brown Sports
-ALR
Good for Manny…Getting out while he still has his brains in tact. The remainder of his life is bigger than a fight with Mayweather.
I hope he banked a few ducats. Gonna be interesting to see what Floyd’s response will be.
I wouldn’t be upset at him if he retires after this fight, even though I would love to see him and Mayweather mix it up Floyd wants to make all the demand like having him train exclusively in the U.S.,Olympic drug test(these guys are pros), when and where to fight, and last but not least not an even split on money!. I don’t need to see him fight lesser people waiting on Floyd to come his senses and quit fooling the public that he wants the fight!
I can’t blame him if that’s what’s in his heart. But I really think he and floyd owe it to the fans to settle it ince and for all. Iv’e purchased all of their fights on ppv and it would be so dissappointing if i never get to see the two greatest fighters of all time get in the ring. We can talk about ali and tyson but they weren’t even in the same era. We have that chance with these two guys.
Good for Pacman, why wait for that douche bag mayweather to say when they can have a fight. Hes scared and I hope Mayweather hurts seeing those millions go away with Pacman’s retirement.