MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao started the build-up to what’s expected to be his last fight early Wednesday, saying he's both “happy” and “sad” to end his storied boxing career.
Happy, because he’ll now have the chance to help his countrymen as a full-time politician; sad, because he’ll be leaving the sport that has made him one of the most remarkable human beings the planet has ever known.
Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. faced the media at the Crystal Ballroom of the famous Beverly Hills Hotel in California for the first of the two stops in the promotional tour for their third fight on April 9 (April 10 Manila time).
Top Rank, Pacquiao’s longtime promoter, tweeted some of Pacquiao’s words during the presser that was streamed live on the Internet.
"Maybe this is our last time." - @MannyPacquiaoTR to the assembled press on https://t.co/Na9vJ4lCUS
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 19, 2016 .@MannyPacquiaoTR: "I'm so happy hanging my gloves up after this fight. I'm sure I'll feel sad after that."
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 19, 2016 "I start boxing because I want to help my family. Now I stop boxing to help my country." - @MannyPacquiaoTR
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 19, 2016 "I never think that we can accomplish all this." - @MannyPacquiaoTR
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 19, 2016 For his part, Top Rank chief Bob Arum had nothing but kind words for the Filipino icon.
"I want to say what a privilege it's been to promote you." - @BobArum introducing @MannyPacquiaoTR on https://t.co/Na9vJ4lCUS
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 19, 2016 Pacquiao and Bradley will be in New York on Thursday for the second and last leg of their promo tour.
Top Rank said tickets to Pacquiao-Bradley 3 will go on sale Friday, January 22 (Saturday, January 23 Manila time). - Dino Maragay