One last fight for politics-bound Pacquiao?

MANILA, Philippines – Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday admitted seriously thinking about hanging up his gloves by year end, apparently to pursue his political plans. In a 24 Oras report, Pacquiao said he is looking at his next fight by October as probably the last in an illustrious career that’s netted him world titles at flyweight, super-bantamweight, super-featherweight and lightweight, plus a Ring Magazine plum at featherweight. “Wala na akong dapat patunayan pa (as a boxer), sobra-sobra na ang biyayang binigay sa akin ng Panginoon," he said from his home province. Pacquiao revealed that his mother Dionesia wanted him to call it a day already after beating Ricky Hatton but the Pacman prevailed upon her to have at least one more against a still-to-be-determined opponent. “Ang mama ko ayaw na niya ako lumaban after ng Hatton fight pero sabi ko pwede pa ako ng isa. By October, after ng fight, saka siguro ako mag-a-announce (what his decision will be)," Pacquiao said. Leading candidates as the other man in Pacquiao's "farewell outing" are the two protagonists in a July 18 fight, the comebacking Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and his old rival Juan Manuel Marquez, as well as Top Rank stablemate Miguel Cotto and even Sugar Shane Mosley and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. Pacquiao’s “retirement" plans are apparently all the more fueled by his decision to run as congressman in Sarangani Province next year. He had previously vied for a congressional seat in South Cotabato but lost rather decisively to third termer Darlene Antonino Custodio. The 30-year-old Pacquiao explained that his desire to serve the people propelled him to dip his hat into the political ring again. “Papasok ako sa pulitika hindi dahil gusto ko bumuti ang buhay ko. Papasok ako dahil gusto ko ipakita sa mga tao ang pag-serbisyo ko at maiganti ko man lang ang kabutihan at karangalang binigay sa akin ng Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng pagse-serbisyo ko sa bayan ko," he said. –GMANews.TV