Pacquiao: No plans yet of retiring from boxing; ‘still happy doing it’

Photo by Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions

MANILA, Philippines — Boxing legend and future hall of famer Senator Manny Pacquiao said he has no plans yet of retiring from boxing.

“Hindi pa [Not yet],” Pacquiao said in an interview at the Senate on Tuesday. “Masaya pa akong lumalaban [I’m still happy doing these fights].”

The senator returned to the country early Tuesday morning after successfully capturing the WBA super welterweight crown from American boxer Keith Thurman.

Pacquiao though hinted that it would never be long enough before he finally hangs up the gloves.

READ: Manny Pacquiao likely to fight again next year

“Mga ilan na lang [There are a few more left]…” the eight-division champ said when a reporter asked how many more fights left in him before he retires.

But who is next after Thurman?

READ: Pacquiao mulls future after title stunner

Pacquiao said no one has been lined up yet for his next fight and that no fight has been put on schedule this year.

“Back to work muna tayo marami pa tayong dapat gawin na trabaho lalong lalo na yung panawagan ni Presidente sa kanyang Sona [State of the Nation Address] so kelangang suportahan natin yung magagandang panukala ng Pangulo,” the senator said.

(Let’s get back to work first before anything else, there are a lot of work to do especially the calls of the President in his Sona, so we need to support all the beautiful proposals of the President.)

He might have failed to attend the fourth Sona of the President on Monday but Pacquiao said he managed to monitor the entire happenings.

While praising Pacquiao, Senator Panfilo Lacson expressed hope his colleague and friend from Saranggani Province would “stay healthy in retirement.”

“He is bull strong at 40, can roll with the punches and shuffle his feet like he’s 20, take some hard punches without being wobbly. He is a good person whose heart is genuinely for the poor and needy,” Lacson said in a Twitter post.

“As a colleague and friend, all I want is for him to stay healthy in retirement,” Lacson added.  /jpv

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