Philippine President Urges Manny Pacquiao to Retire

The President of the Philippines is advising Manny Pacquiao to quit the boxing scene for good.

According to TMZ, President Benigno Aquino III told AM radio station Bombo Radyo in the Philippines that he believes it is time for the eight-division champion to hang up his boxing gloves to save his health.

President Aquino remembered boxing legend Muhammad Ali's experience, who fought until he was 39 years old, then suffered long term consequences, such as Parkinson 's disease.

Aquino, as translated, said, "One of the most tragic perhaps was when I saw (Ali) lighting the Olympic torch with his hand shaking."

The Philippine President also told Filipino fans to allow the 36-year-old General Santos City native to retire quietly.

Aquino added, "If we will push him (and say) that 'No, there should be a rematch, you have to take a gamble again', I think we will not be showing debt of gratitude to the person."

PhilStar revealed that during Pacquiao's courtesy call in Malacañang Palace on May 13, the boxer told the President that he will be resting to fully recuperate from his shoulder injury. Pacquiao aggravated the shoulder injury which he sustained before facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2, and underwent surgery on May 13, Boxing Scene wrote.

President Aquino also commended Mayweather after winning against Pacquiao, saying that the American was a smart boxer, based on the same PhilStar report.

As for Pacquiao, who is also a congressman in the southern province of Sarangani in the Philippines, he shared in a BBC report that he will focus on healing his shoulder in the meantime, and then announce whether he will continue his boxing career or retire.

Pacquiao said, "I'm not saying I am going to retire, but it's near. I'm already 36, turning 37 this December."

There were talks that a possible rematch may happen between Pacquiao and Mayweather. However, Mayweather took back his statements and and called Pacman a "sore loser" and "coward."

"If you lost, accept the loss and say, 'Mayweather, you were the better fighter,'" Mayweather told Showtime's Jim Gray.

On the other hand, Pacquiao, who believes he won the May 2 fight by a small margin, is open for a rematch but he has to prioritize his other commitments first. He said, "I [would] like that [rematch]. I want that. But my focus right now is my shoulder, my work as a congressman and my family."