Manny Pacquiao will be hanging the gloves next year after one more fight to focus on his political endeavors in his home country of the Philippines, according to his promoter Top Rank's Bob Arum.
TMZ caught up with Arum last Tuesday and he was asked what Pacquiao should do to be the highest-paid athlete and the Top Rank CEO said that is not his fighter's goal.
Arum then added, "He's gonna fight again next year but his goal is to become a senator in the Philippines, which he will be next year, and then to be president."
Pacquiao, who is currently a congressman in the Philippines after being re-elected, is recovering from a shoulder surgery he had days after his fight against rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May.
The 36-year-old boxer is set to fight early next year most likely against Amir Khan, although his head coach Freddie Roach wants Danny Garcia, believing that he will be an easy opponent.
A rematch against Mayweather will always be an option but it will unlikely happen with the unbeaten American focusing on his bout against Andre Berto this month, which he said will be his swan song.
TMZ also asked Arum on who he thinks will retire first between Mayweather and Pacquiao; he said his fighter will be leaving the sport first.
Arum thinks Mayweather will continue fighting after the Berto fight; but Pacquiao will stop boxing once he becomes a senator in the Philippines, which he reiterated will be next year.
Pacquiao, who started boxing when he was 16 years old, now boasts a 57–6–2 (38 knockouts) record and is the first ever eight-division champion.
Along with his boxing and political endeavors, Pacquiao also engages in singing and acting. He has also pursued his passion for basketball being a playing coach for the Mahindra Enforcers of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
