Pressed by mother, Pacquiao mulls retirement
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Manny Pacquiao, widely regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, may quit the game because his mother has begged him to retire.
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Manny Pacquiao smiles as he poses with his wife Jinkee and two children Princess (center) and Jimuel (right) on his arrival to another hero's welcome in Manila, Philippines, early yesterday. |
Pacquiao was welcomed home by hundreds of fans at Manila's airport early yesterday before he went to mass at a Roman Catholic church in the capital's old commercial district of Quiapo.
The boxer, who retained his WBO welterweight title against Ghana's Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Texas, is standing for election in national polls on May 10.
"I might retire," Pacquiao told reporters. "My mother has been begging me to stop fighting, so we'll talk about this."
Fight fans are hoping Pacquiao will stick around long enough to fight American Floyd Mayweather Jr. Their hotly anticipated welterweight bout was called off in January, partly due to a dispute over drug testing procedures.
"After my fight with (Miguel) Cotto, I ask her to allow me to fight one last time and she agreed," added Pacquiao. "Now, she's asking me again to retire, what will I tell her now?"
Pacquiao is still open to fighting Mayweather Jr. but is waiting for the challenge to come from the other side and for promoters to iron out a row over drug testing.
"I came this far in my boxing career without Mayweather, so I see no need to call him out," Pacquiao said. "He needs me to bolster his career.
"I am open to him fighting me anytime he wants to."
On Friday, Pacquiao climbs into the political ring, seeking a seat in the lower house of Congress in Sarangani province as the campaign period for local positions starts across the country.
In 2007, he ran and lost in his first attempt to become a lawmaker.
Pacquiao said he would talk to his family about the future of his boxing career before making a decision, and said his political ambitions were not a contributing factor.
"I have been in boxing for a long time and I have given so many honours to my country. Even without the elections and the politics, my retirement will largely depend on my family's decision," he said.
Pacquiao toured Manila's narrow streets as thousands cheered and waved at his motorcade.
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