The spokesperson of Senator Manny Pacquaio, Monico Puentevella, issued a clarification that the boxing champion has not officially retired from the sport.
Puentevella said that the boxing champion will only be busy for his 2022 presidential bid for now.
The spokesperson said that Pacquiao has yet to decide on whether to hang his gloves for good.
“He’s not yet retiring from boxing because he doesn’t talk about boxing anymore,” Puentevella told GMA News Online on Tuesday.
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He’s really busy thinking about how to win and how to help people. He really wants to change the system. His focus right now is on helping the poor and running the country, boxing is not part of our conversations right now,” he added.
“Boxing career ko? Tapos na ‘yong boxing career ko,” Pacquiao told Toni Gonzaga in a Youtube interview.
The boxer has been avoiding questions on his plans on whether to retire or get back into the boxing ring after his defeat from Yordenis Ugas.
“Tapos na kasi matagal na rin ako sa pagbo-boxing at ‘yong pamilya ko laging nagsasabi na tama na. Nagtuloy-tuloy lang ako kasi passionate ako sa sports na ito,” he said.
Pacquiao has accepted his nomination as the presidential standard bearer of the PDP-Laban faction headed by him and Senator Koko Pimentel.
Pacquiao was declared as presidential candidate by the party during a national assembly staged on Sunday, September 19.
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“We are ready to rise to the challenge of leadership,” Pacquiao said in his acceptance speech.
The members of the party also gave Pacquiao the authority to choose his running mate or vice presidential candidate.
“Panahon na upang manalo naman ang mga naaapi. Panahon na para makabangon ang bayan natin na lugmok sa kahirap. Panahon na nang isang malinis na gobyerno na kung saan ang bawat sentimo ay mapupunta sa bawat Pilipino,” he said.
“Sa mga nanunungkulan sa ating pamahalaan na patuloy na nagsasamantala at nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, malipat na kayong magsasama sa kulungan,” Pacquiao explained. (TDT)
