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Nicolas Atkin

After confusing fans with his on-again, off-again retirement announcement this month, Manny Pacquiao has finally spelt it out plainly and clearly that he is hanging up his boxing gloves once and for all.
And good on him for making the right call.
The 42-year-old Filipino boxing icon (62-8-2, 39 KOs) has nothing left to prove to anybody, winning world titles at an unprecedented eight different weight classes, over a stellar 26-year career.
But his unanimous decision defeat by Yordenis Ugas on August 21 showed he simply cannot compete at the very top any more.

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. https://t.co/Bde4wO82sA
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) September 29, 2021

That is not to say he still couldn’t beat many highly-skilled boxers in the welterweight ranks, and earn handsome fight purses while thrilling his legion of fans.
The freakishly-fit and unwaveringly-dedicated Pacquiao has always raged against the dying of the light, insisting that age is just a number, even when it comes to getting punched in the face.
Manny Pacquiao announces retirement from boxing
But it always felt like he would no longer get in the ring once he knew he could no longer beat the very best, and we’ve finally arrived at that point.
Many observers thought this moment would come two years earlier, when he took on American Keith Thurman – 10 years his junior – in July 2019.
But Pacquiao proved all the doubters wrong when at 40 years old he stunned the dangerous “One Time” to win the WBA super welterweight title, becoming the oldest ever world champion in that weight class.

He was stripped of the belt for inactivity 18 months later, with the world in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, and by the time we saw him again, it looked like Father Time had finally caught up with Pacquiao.
He had lost that crucial step, something the Filipino icon’s supporters perhaps fooled themselves into thinking would never happen.
But boxing is by and large a young person’s game – and thankfully we won’t see Pacquiao embarrassing himself in lucrative (and ludicrous) exhibition fights that are beneath him like his great rival Floyd Mayweather.

Nor will we see him endangering his health like 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield did this month by boxing former UFC champion Vitor Belfort.
No, thankfully Pacquiao will now focus full time on his career in politics, which for 11 years has threatened to drag him away from the ring.
The most famous man in the Philippines has now announced his long-awaited run for the presidency, having first been elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, before winning a Congressional seat in 2016.

The fighting Senator continued to juggle his new day job with the rigours of training, but the time has finally come for him to completely move on.
And the timing is perfect. For Pacquiao is simply unlikely to ever again get his hands on one of the big boxing titles, with a queue of younger, hungrier fighters either ahead of him or snapping at his heels looking to play the role of legend killer.
Of course, Pacquiao was set to fight Errol Spence Jnr instead of Ugas last month, and was perhaps spared a much sounder beating when the IBF and WBC champion damaged his retina just a week out from the fight.

Pacquiao deserves credit for still wanting to test himself against the best, but on the evidence of his performance against the 35-year-old Ugas, Spence would’ve enjoyed an easy night against the Filipino.
The other super fight out there for Pacquiao, against WBO champion, Terence Crawford, would likely not end well for him either.
Going down the ranks, Thurman would also be looking for that rematch, while Shawn Porter is also firmly in the mix, along with Danny Garcia and Mikey Garcia. Then there is the up-and-coming problem in 23-year-old American Virgil Ortiz Jnr.

At least this way, Pacquiao goes out in his own terms. Not face down on the canvas, or after a string of increasingly desperate defeats like so many ageing legends in combat sports do, out of pride and financial necessity.
Let’s just hope we’re not back here talking about Pacquiao boxing Logan Paul in a couple of years’ time.


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Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao makes the right call to retire and go gently into the night

Manny Pacquiao waves at the crowd after losing against Yordenis Ugas. Photo: AFP

(FILES) This file photo taken on April 28, 2016 shows Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao (L) giving a t-shirt to a supporter during a campaign rally in Calamba town, Laguna province south of Manila. - Philippine boxing legend and 2022 presidential hopeful Manny Pacquiao said on September 29, 2021 that he is hanging up his gloves after a glittering decades-long career in the ring. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

TOPSHOT - Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao (C) celebrates after defeating US boxer Keith Thurman during their WBA super world welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. - Pacquiao won a 12 round split decision. (Photo by John Gurzinski / AFP)

(FILES) This file photo taken on May 2, 2015 shows Floyd Mayweather Jr. (L) exchanging punches with Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight unification championship bout, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. - Philippine boxing legend and 2022 presidential hopeful Manny Pacquiao said on September 29, 2021 that he is hanging up his gloves after a glittering decades-long career in the ring. (Photo by JOHN GURZINSKI / AFP)

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 14, 2009 shows Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines celebrating after defeating Miguel Angel Cotto of Puerto Rico in their WBO Welterweight Championship fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. - Philippine boxing legend and 2022 presidential hopeful Manny Pacquiao said on September 29, 2021 that he is hanging up his gloves after a glittering decades-long career in the ring. (Photo by MARK RALSTON / AFP)

LAS VEGAS - MAY 02: Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines stands over Ricky Hatton of England after knocking him out in the second round during their junior welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 2, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP

Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao announces retirement – ‘it is difficult for me to accept’

Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao in a press conference in Manila, the Philippines after beating US boxer Adrien Broner in Las Vegas in 2019. Photo: AFP

Philippines presidential race: former boxer Manny Pacquiao enters the ring for 2022

Manny Pacquiao has accepted the nomination of his faction of the ruling PDP-Laban Party. Photo: EPA

FILE PHOTO: Philippine Senator and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao reads his briefing materials as he prepares for the Senate session in Pasay city, Metro Manila, Philippines September 20, 2016. Picture taken September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Erik De Castro//File Photo

Manny Pacquiao upset by Yordenis Ugas in potentially the final fight of his career

Manny Pacquiao (left) lands a right hand on Yordenis Ugas during their WBA World Welterweight Championship fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Photo: EPA

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines waves and bows at the crow after losing against Yordenis Ugas of Cuba following the WBA Welterweight Championship boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 21, 2021. - Cuba's Yordenis Ugas upset Manny Pacquiao to retain his WBA welterweight crown on Saturday, winning by unanimous decision after a bruising 12-round battle at the T-Mobile Arena. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)

Yordenis Ugas, of Cuba, hits Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, in a welterweight championship boxing match Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Sport

Boxing


Filipino icon has raged against the dying of the light, trying to prove age is just a number, but the time is right to call it quits
A queue is forming of younger, hungrier boxers looking to play role of legend killer, and Pacquiao can no longer beat the very best



Filipino icon has raged against the dying of the light but can no longer beat the very best, and a queue is forming of younger, hungrier boxers looking to play role of legend killer.


Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Tale of the Tape

Tale of the Tape | Manny Pacquiao makes the right call to retire and go gently into the night

Filipino icon has raged against the dying of the light, trying to prove age is just a number, but the time is right to call it quits A queue is forming of younger, hungrier boxers looking to play role of legend killer, and Pacquiao can no longer beat the very best

Filipino icon has raged against the dying of the light, trying to prove age is just a number, but the time is right to call it quits

A queue is forming of younger, hungrier boxers looking to play role of legend killer, and Pacquiao can no longer beat the very best