Manny Pacquiao takes questions during a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Pacquiao is scheduled to face Timothy Bradley Jr. on April 9 in Las Vegas for Bradley’s WBO welterweight title. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
BEVERLY HILLS, California—From street urchin to global superstar, Manny Pacquiao is about to undergo one final metamorphosis before lowering the curtains on his chapter in boxing history. He will transform into a full-time public servant.
“I want to serve the people,” he declared during a press conference Tuesday trumpeting his last bout, an April 9 WBO welterweight duel against Timothy Bradley.
One last fight. One last familiar dedication.
“I want to end my career by helping my countrymen, the Filipino people,” Pacquiao said at Beverly Hills Hotel.
Pacquiao is coming off his most lucrative payday, a defeat to unblemished American star Floyd Mayweather Jr., a result many still contest until now.
And for this final dance, Pacquiao wants to be remembered as a winner.
“To prove that I can still fight until the end,” Pacquiao said as he thanked Team Bradley for being a part of history.
“I’m happy hanging up my gloves after this fight, but I’m sure I’ll be sad. But that’s life. It’s not all the time that you’d be in the ring.”
“It’s time, I think.”
Pacquiao also dismissed the notion that he chose Bradley as his final opponent because the American champion would be an easier way out.
“I believe Bradley is different than before. He moved a lot, we saw that in his last fight (against Brandon Rios). I also believe that we can make a lot of boxing in the ring,” added Pacquiao.
Though he shed no tear, Pacquiao turned somber in his closing statement.
“Maybe this is our last time to see each other,” Pacquiao told the media present.” I’m giving thanks for all your support.”
There is still the notion that this could just be another ploy to sell tickets and pay-per-view buys. After all, when it comes to retirement declarations, promoter Bob Arum has heard them all.
“I will not promote it as Manny’s last fight,” Arum said. “He says he’s going to retire, and maybe he will. The truth is that you never know with any boxer, but I haven’t known Manny to say things he doesn’t mean. But we all realize this could be the last time he fights.”
Pacquiao realizes that if he looks impressive in beating Bradley, he could stoke interest in a rematch with Mayweather, who retired last fall. Even after their anti-climactic first meeting, a second bout would be another financial windfall for the two biggest stars in boxing.
Pacquiao will face Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, completing a trilogy between two of the world’s top welterweights. Bradley won a hotly disputed split decision over Pacquiao in their first meeting in June 2012, but Pacquiao earned a unanimous decision victory in the April 2014 rematch. With reports from Associated Press