INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?(UPDATE) After seven boxing titles, millions of dollars worth in cash prizes, and the adulation of fans worldwide, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao on Monday said he is finally considering hanging up his boxing gloves.

The pound for pound boxing champion gave the statement first to reporters at the New World Hotel and then later at Quiapo church, where he heard a thanksgiving mass.

His retirement would dash hopes for a mega-buck fight with the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., who faces Shane Mosley in May.

He emphasized his mother's repeated pleas for him to finally hang up his gloves after a phenomenal career that has seen him become the only fighter in history to win seven world titles in as many weight divisions.

"She kneels down and cries every time (she asks me to quit). That's a heavy burden when it's my mother doing that," he said.

Pacquiao said he didn't need to face Mayweather to cement his legacy in the ring.

"I reached my dream as a boxer without Floyd Mayweather in my career. I do not need him, they are the ones who need me," Pacquiao told reporters upon his arrival back home in the Philippines following his latest victory.

At the New World Hotel in Makati, Pacquiao said his mother Dionesia has been asking him not to fight anymore considering the dangers of the sport.

?She [Dionesia] told me that she would be on her knees just to make me stop fighting. I don?t want to see my mother like that,? he told reporters at a brief talk in the hotel lobby where he was accompanied by his family and posse.

Again, in a brief speech toward the end of the thanksgiving mass at Quiapo church, Pacquiao said he was thinking about retirement on the request of his family?a thought that saddened him.

He thanked the Filipinos for supporting him and said that the Philippines was now on the map as having among the best boxers in the world.

At 31, Pacquiao is still healthy and in peak form but people close to him, including his famous coach and trainer, Freddie Roach, said they wouldn't want Pacquiao to wait for the day that he could not box anymore before retiring.

Pacquiao returned to Manila early Monday fresh from a successful defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Ghanian Joshua Clottey in Texas last March 14.

He has now won 12 consecutive fights, eight by knockout, since losing to Erik Morales in March 2005.

Talks for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight fell through earlier in the year when the American insisted on Olympic-style drug testing, which the Filipino refused.

The dream match is one of the most anticipated ever and could provide the biggest payday in boxing history for the fighters. His fights have been crowd drawers, having been watched by personalities from politics, entertainment, and from other sports.

The undefeated Mayweather is to fight Shane Mosley on May 1, and negotiations could then resume for a bout with Pacquiao after that, the American's promoters have said.

Pacquiao with wife Jinkee was welcomed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by three of his four children and officials.

Among the familiar faces in the welcoming crowd at the airport was Nacionalista standard-bearer Manuel Villar, whose hand Pacquiao raised after his talk. Former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson and former environment secretary Lito Atienza, the come-backing mayoral hopeful in Manila, stood beside Pacquiao.

Pacquiao dropped by the house of his long-time mentor and Manila mayoral candidate Lito Atienza along the Osmeña highway in San Andres Bukid in Manila.

From there, they went to the Quiapo to hear a thanksgiving mass for Pacquiao's latest ring triumph.

Pacquiao arrived at Malacañang on Monday morning for what has become his customary courtesy call on President Macapagal-Arroyo in celebration of his victory in Texas a week ago.

As of this posting, Pacquiao has been seated in the Palace's music room.

The boxing champion was seen making a playful spar with a young boy mimicking Clottey.

He is scheduled to fly to Mindanao to prepare for his own political campaign. He is running under the Nacionalista Party, whose head and standard bearer is Senator Manny Villar.

He will be motoring around Manila and other places starting around noon time.