After Floyd Mayweather announced his retirement last month, it seems another boxing legend is following suit.
CEO and founder of Top Rank promotions, Bob Arum has revealed that Manny Pacquiao will hang up his gloves after his fight on April 9th next year.
Speaking to ESPN, Arum said that Pacquiao had told him last week that his next fight will be his last as he looks to focus his attention solely on his political career in the Philippines.
We talked very seriously, and he said, 'Bob, hopefully, by the middle of May I will have been elected senator in the Philippines, and at that point I cannot engage in boxing because I need to focus on the senate and I have to be in attendance.
The multi weight world champion currently serves as a congressman for his province but he's hoping to secure a seat in the senate during next years elections.
Arum, who's a both a long term associate and friend of Pacquiao,was fully supportive of the decision of one of his most lucrative clients.
Manny told me this would be his last fight, and I'm not sad about it, because he's going on to a political career which will require a lot of mental acuity, so you don't want him to stay in boxing too long. If he stays in boxing a little too long, his mental faculties might be somewhat impaired.
His opponent is not yet confirmed but there will no doubt be a long line of potential suitors ready to step up for the blockbuster event.
Undefeated welterweight Terrance Crawford is amongst the favourites to take the fight as he's also managed by Arum. Amir Khan is also said to be in the running after he missed out on fighting Mayweather last month. But the legendary promoter said the final decision rest with Pacquiao.
My deal with Manny is that after I have my conversations with all the likely contenders, I go to Manny and Michael Koncz and lay everything out and let them pick who Manny wants to fight.
Regardless of who he fights or what the outcome is the Pacman will be regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time after being the only fighter in history to win a staggering eight world titles at eight different weight classes.
