MANILA, Philippines – Inaasahan nang magreretiro na si Manny Pacquiao pagkatapos ng kanyang ikatlong laban kontra kay Timothy Bradley Jr. sa April 9 (April 10 Manila time) para tutukan ang kanyang political career.
Isa lamang ang makakapagpabalik sa kanya sa boksing mula sa retirement: rematch kay Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“I have been very vocal about it (fighting Mayweather) even before the Bradley fight was made official on New Year’s Eve,” sabi ni Pacquiao sa isang artikulo sa Philboxing.com. “The reason is simple, I want to end my 21-year boxing career with a big bang so to speak.”
Natalo si Pacquiao kay Mayweather noong May ng nakaraang taon na sumira ng mga records sa pay-per-view records ngunit masasabing ‘fail’ din ang laban dahil hindi nito natapatan ang hype ng laban.
“And what would be the biggest fight to end a career than fighting the best and finest boxer at least in this era? We could have given that last May when we faced each other but due to unavoidable circumstan-ces, sports fans failed to get the results they wanted,” sabi pa ni Pacquiao.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum na hindi niya ipo-promote ang Pacquiao-Bradley 3 bilang huling laban ng Pambansang Kamao para sa inaasahang isa pang laban.
Hinikayat naman ni Pacquiao, ang walang talong si undefeated Mayweather na tapusin na ang kanilang “unfinished business.” (DM)