Pacman back, may come out of retirement

MANILA, Philippines - Boxing icon Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is not officially retired and is “leaving the door open” for a rematch with American Floyd Mayweather Jr.

But for now, it’s back to the campaign trail for Pacquiao, who is part of the senatorial slate of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) in the May 9 elections.

Pacquiao and his family arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 at 5:07 a.m. yesterday on Philippine Airlines flight PR 103 from Los Angeles.

“Yes, I am retired as of now. I want to be with my family and to serve my people,” he told reporters at the airport lobby.

But he refused to say if he is retiring from boxing for good.

In his arrival statement, Pacquiao thanked his admirers for their endless support.

He reiterated his observation that Timothy Bradley, whom he faced for the third time last Sunday in Las Vegas, was a different boxer from their previous fights.

He said Bradley is now more scientific and a counter puncher, but he was able to adjust immediately to the new style of the American.

Pacquaio’s wife Jinkee, when asked about her husband’s retirement, said “yes, Manny is retired for now and it’s up to him if he leaves his door open for another fight.”

Observers said that negotiations are now ongoing among handlers of Mayweather and Pacquiao for a possible rematch.

Pacquiao, when asked about his conditions, said, “Kalabaw lang ang tumatanda, pero wala naman nagbago sa akin, ganoon pa rin ang pakiramdam ko sa sarili ko (Only carabaos grow old but nothing has changed  for me, I still feel the same).”

“I don’t want to say something that you know we don’t know yet. I don’t know what the feeling is going to be like when I’m retired,” Pacquiao said.

He seems unsure if he will hang up his gloves for good, or is merely waiting for a “green light for a rematch.” 

After the fight with Bradley, Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach said: “I’m hoping it’s not his last fight because I still think he has a lot left in him, there’s some interesting fights out there.”

Roach said in a recent interview that he had not given up hope in securing a rematch between Pacquiao and Mayweather, who is also retired.

Pacquiao lost to Mayweather in their only fight in May 2015.

After the airport interview, the congressman boarded a white SUV for a motorcade that included 10 other SUVs, six personal guards and Metro Manila Development Authority traffic constables on motorcycles.

The motorcade started in Makati at around 8:30 a.m., made its way to Pasay and Manila and then ended in Quezon City at around 11 a.m.

He and his group reportedly ate lunch at one of the hotels in Cubao, Quezon City.

Police said only a small crowd welcomed the boxer at the Araneta Center in Cubao unlike his previous homecoming motorcades.

Supt. Rolando Balasabas, QC police station VII chief, said it seemed that people were not aware of the Pacquiao victory motorcade in the city.

The police had prepared for the motorcade the night before.

Fans of Pacquiao would see him in the campaign sorties of UNA in the coming days, Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday.

“We talked earlier today and he told me that he will be joining me in the campaign,” Binay said during a press conference at the D’ Hotel and Suites in Dipolog City.

“In fact, he might join us tomorrow (Friday),” he said.

Binay, however, said he advised Pacquiao to rest some more.

Pacquiao missed several sorties of UNA to prepare for his fight with Bradley.

Despite being absent in campaign sorties, Pacquiao remained within the Senate winning circle based on various pre-election surveys. – Helen Flores, Romina Cabrera