Pacquiao on retirement: I know better

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao recently brushed off his promoter’s statement that he will retire soon.

In a report by Agence France-Presse, Pacquiao insisted that the decision to quit boxing will come from him, saying he knows his body best.

“I know better what is happening to my body,” said the Filipino icon.

Pacquiao issued the statement in reaction to his promoter Bob Arum’s claim that the boxer will hang up his gloves next year and focus on politics.

“I believe he [Pacquiao]’ll take one more fight, then run for the Senate in the Philippines,” Arum,  who heads Top Rank Inc., recently said.

Pacquiao, for his part, didn’t want to delve into the issue further.

“Just leave it alone. Better not to react to that,” he stressed.

The General Santos City-based southpaw will sit out the rest of the year to give way to his full recovery from a shoulder injury he sustained while training for his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May. Pacquiao lost to Mayweather in boxing’s richest fight, but said he will return to the ring next year.

He could face Britain’s Amir Khan in Dubai or take on the undefeated Danny Garcia. – Dino Maragay