Manny Pacquiao Looking To Abruptly Exit Boxing In 2016
Manny Pacquiao just received the ultimate compliment from an almost retired Floyd Mayweather. Floyd recently stated that Manny Pacquiao will likely replace him as boxing’s best. Floyd has one more fight left. The 38-year-old will face the final opponent of his career this Saturday. He’s putting on the gloves to fight underdog opponent Andre Berto in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquiao injured his shoulder while training for the May fight with Mayweather. If Manny didn’t get that injury then perhaps there would be a different welterweight champ right now.
Pacquiao may still have chances to redeem himself. Manager Bob Arum is trying to arrange Pacquiao’s next fight as we speak. Manny won’t be fighting again until 2016, but it might be his last fight before retirement. Manny doesn’t really need to fight again. Despite the loss to Mayweather, 36-year-old Manny made millions on the bout. His next fight isn’t likely to be as lucrative, but it could give him the momentum he needs to wind down his career on top.
Amir Khan has given up trying to chase after a potential fight with Mayweather, and has since been harassing Pacquiao for a chance. The 28-year-old British-Pakistani fighter is trying to enlarge his reputation. A fight with a name like Pacquiao could define him as star or scrub. Pacquiao’s promotor says he can make it happen.
Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com what opponents Manny could face next.
“He’s going to fight next year and he’s going to fight the best available person and right now we’re focusing in on three guys but there might be more ahead. We’re looking at Kell Brook, Amir Khan and Terence Crawford.”
But that’s only if Manny’s other career goal falls through. Pacquiao is again looking to embed himself in the Philippine political scene. If he gets elected, it could limit our chances of seeing him in the ring. And it would be a perfect career segue in case that shoulder injury never fully heals.
Bob Arum told TMZ of Pacquiao’s grand political hopes.
“He’s gonna run for Senate in the Philippines in 2016… and then in 2022 or maybe later, he’ll run for President of the Philippines.”
The things Pacquiao is looking to do in politics are even bigger than the things he was able to do as a boxer. Manny Pacquiao is now following his earlier successes getting elected into the Philippine House of Representatives with bids for the country’s top offices.
[Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images]
