Bob Arum claims April 9 fight to be Pacquiao’s last.

    0
    1337

    It looks as though Manny Pacquiao might be following in Floyd Mayweather’s footsteps into retirement spring of next year. With Manny’s upcoming election for senator in his home country of the Philippines taking place in May, it is his promoter Bob Arum’s belief that April 9 will be the future Hall of Famers last bout.

    Pacquiao has had questions arise before about his ability to exist as both a prize fighter and politician simultaneously. Manny has 6 wins and 3 losses since being elected to the Filipino House of Representatives in May of 2010 which includes losses to rivals Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, and Tim Bradley. It appears as though both Arum and Pacquiao agree that if elected to the Senate in May, politics will become the only priority in Pacquiao’s career from here on out. “It’s a real job and if Manny is serious about wanting to be president, these six years in the senate would be like an audition and for him to show his people that he really is a serious politician,” Arum said when talking to ESPN.com. “Manny told me this fight on April 9 will be his last fight.”

    Opponents for what could be Pacquiao’s swan song from boxing include Juan Manuel Marquez for a fifth fight, Amir Khan, or Terrence Crawford. Marquez appears hesitant to get in the ring for another clash with his rival after his impressive knockout of Pacquiao in 2012. Amir Khan seems unlikely with the cross promotion needed to make the fight happen between Top Rank and Al Haymon leaving Crawford the likely recipient of the opportunity.

    Crawford’s destruction of Dierry Jean, resulting in a 10th round stoppage Saturday night, certainly makes him a worthy and dangerous opponent. It also presents Top Rank with a best of both worlds situation where the future star Crawford can soar to boxing’s elite with a victory or the fight can serve as an excellent book end to a fantastic career for Manny Pacquiao.