It’s final!

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao finally confirmed that he will be quitting from his boxing career after 26 years of seeing action.

During his interview with Cebuano sports writer Emmanuel Villaruel, the senator said that he will focus to his presidential bid in the 2022 national elections.

“Retire na. Dili nako mo-away. Dugay na pud ko sa boksing,” Pacquiao said.

At 42, the eight world champion put an end to speculations announcing his retirement, despite some contradictions from his aides.

It was a remarkable feat for Pacquiao, who decided to call it off, following a defeat from WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás last month.

To recall, Pacquiao also struggled a lot before reaching the stardom. Living with his parents, sister and two younger brothers in a single-room shack, he would go days without food.

His father Rosalio scaled 70 trees a day collecting coconuts to sell and make money to support his family while his mother Dionisia, sells peanuts on street. When his parents decided to separate ways, Manny dropped out of school and took up boxing at the age of 12.

At 15, Pacquiao had established himself as the best junior boxer in the country. Most of the time, they had only bananas and root crops to eat, but when his boxing career went well, he made sure his family ate rice. Now they eat anything they want to eat.

Pacquiao started with a four-round unanimous decision win over Edmund Enting Ignacio in January 1995 at Sablayan.

He highlighted his career following impressive victories and later captured world championships in the flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, super welterweight and bantamweight divisions.

During his younger years, Pacquiao defeated fellow boxing legends Oscar dela Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, Oscar Larios, Ricky Hatton, Timothy Bradley, Adrien Broner, and Keith Thurman.

But not all are winning moments, he also suffered heart-breaking losses from American fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jeff Horn and Ugas. The Filipino boxing legend finished his career with 62 wins (39 by way of stoppages), eight losses and two draws.

Despite focusing on his new path, Pacquiao said he will still support local boxers, hoping to produce champions under his MP Promotions.IMT Sports