Pacquiao: Retirement will be a personal decision

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao, now busy campaigning in Sarangani, said the decision for him to hang up his gloves is his alone.

“I will make my own decision when I want to retire. Ako lang,” said the boxing icon, who flew to Sarangani the other day for the start of his campaign for a congressional seat in the May 10 national elections.

Upon his return from the United States last Monday, days after he crushed Joshua Clottey and retained his WBO welterweight crown, Pacquiao said he wants to retire so he could focus on his campaign.

Pacquiao has shelved talks about his next fight, even as reports said that one of the possible opponents, Edwin Valero, beat up his wife in Venezuela and has been placed under arrest.

Valero, who has knocked out all his 27 opponents, reportedly beat up his wife who had to be taken to the hospital, and his actions may have taken him out of the Pacquiao lottery.

As soon as Pacquiao talked about retiring, those close to him came up with their own statements. His trainer, Freddie Roach, said it won’t happen soon because Pacquiao has three more fighting years left.

Then the boxer’s Cebuano adviser, Wakee Salud, said the pound-for-pound champion can’t retire as long as Floyd Mayweather Jr. is around and looking for a super-fight with Pacquiao.

Pacquiao said he will consult with his family about his plan to retire but stressed that at the end of the day, it will be his call.

“Ako lang ang magde-decide nyan,” he said.

Pacquiao’s mother, Dionesia, is begging for him to retire, but his wife, Jinkee, said she’d support any decision he has to make.

A fight with Mayweather, if and when it happens, can earn Pacquiao as much as $50 million, or just a little less than the $53 million he got for fighting Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Clottey since 2008.

Last Thursday, Pacquiao graced the Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Awards at the Sofitel Hotel, and on the same night got the chance to meet American pop star Justine Timberlake who was staying in the same hotel.

While the Filipino boxer said he loves Timberlake’s music, the latter also said he’s an avid fan of the greatest boxer in the world today.

“Hey! I’m a big fan,” the 29-year-old Timberlake told Pacquiao as they were introduced to each other.

Jake Joson, the boxer’s close friend, said Timberlake begged off from meeting top executives of his concert sponsors, but when told that Pacquiao was interested in meeting him he did not think twice.

“He wasted no time, left his room and met Pacquiao a few floors down. Justine said he had wanted to meet Manny even when he was in the US,” said Joson. “And Manny did not waste the opportunity to welcome him to the country.”

Pacquiao and Timberlake met for only 10 minutes, and before they parted the Filipino boxer presented the American superstar with a Team Pacquiao jacket, which he also signed.