Pacquiao wishes Marquez, Bradley well in retirement
Manny Pacquiao says his former opponents Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez were "great fighters during their prime."
MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao praised his former opponents Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley, both of whom recently announced their retirement from boxing.
In a text message to Philstar.com relayed by his media officer Aquiles Zonio, Pacquiao hailed Marquez and Bradley as “great fighters.”
RELATED: Pacquiao archrival Marquez cites injuries as reason for retirement
“I wish both of them well. They were great fighters during their prime,” said the fighting senator, who engaged Marquez and Bradley in multiple bouts.
Marquez, Pacquiao’s biggest rival, figured in an epic four-fight saga with the Filipino icon, which culminated with the Mexican brutally knocking out his rival in their fourth and last meeting in 2012.
The 43-year-old pride of Mexico City cited injuries incurred while training for a planned return earlier this year as the reason for calling it quits.
On the other hand, Bradley, 33, fought Pacquiao thrice – losing two times – and hasn’t seen action since his final duel with the Filipino last year.
He recently told a US radio show that he decided to hang up his gloves after personally seeing a bloody Pacquiao struggle against Jeff Horn in Australia last month.
ALSO READ: Sight of bloody Pacquiao prompts Bradley to retire
Pacquiao, for his part, is just happy to know Marquez and Bradley are riding off into the sunset in good health.
“May God bless both of them and their families,” Pacquiao said.
Marquez and Bradley leave the sport with respective records of 56-7-1 (with 40 KOs) and 33-2 (with 13 KOs).
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