Manny Pacquiao Comments on Retiring After Next Fight, Run for Philippine Senate

Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao intends to increase his political responsibilities in his native Philippines in 2016, and that may mean a retirement from boxing is on the horizon.  

According to ABS-CBN, the 36-year-old fighter acknowledged he plans to run for Senate after having served in the Filipino Congress since 2010: "Yes, I'm going to run for [a] Senate post this coming 2016 election. But as to which party, that's still to be determined."

Following that announcement, Pacquiao revealed he may retire from boxing following his next fight in order to put his time and effort into politics, per ABS-CBN (h/t SkySports.com): "I think I'm ready [for retirement]. I've been in boxing for more than 20 years. I prayed to God for guidance and I am happy about it. I will have to give up the other things that require my attention. If you are a senator, your focus should only be your job and your family."

Pac-Man's comments come on the heels of his promoter, Bob Arum, sharing similar sentiments in September, according to TMZ: "He's gonna fight again next year but his goal is to become a senator in the Philippines, which he will be next year, and then to be president. I think Manny will retire once he's elected to the Senate of the Philippines which is next year ... he's gonna hang up the gloves."

Pacquiao has expressed a desire to have a rematch against Floyd Mayweather Jr., who defeated him via unanimous decision in May.

It was revealed after the fight that Pacquiao competed with a torn rotator cuff, but he has reportedly made a great deal of progress in his recovery.

While a rematch with Mayweather seems unlikely since Money announced his retirement after defeating Andre Berto in September, Jeff Powell of the Daily Mail believes England's Amir Khan could be the front-runner for Pacquiao's next and potentially final fight.

Regardless of whom Pac-Man's next opponent is, it will undoubtedly be a spectacle. If it does turn out to be the final time Pacquiao puts on the gloves, then the only eight-division world champion in history can walk away from the sport knowing he has accomplished nearly everything possible.

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