Boxing Promoter Bob Arum has told the media that Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao has decided to retire after his April 9 fight next year. Arum said that was the news relayed to him by Pacquiao during their New York dinner meeting on the second week of October.

According to ESPN, Pacquiao's political aspirations in his home country the Philippines is the reason why he is hanging up his boxing gloves.

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The Filipino boxing icon is currently a lawmaker representing the southern province of Sarangani. In the upcoming 2016 Philippine elections, Pacquiao is setting his sights on winning a senatorial seat.

Arum recounted his conversation with Pacquiao, who told him that if he gets himself elected as Senator, he will no longer have time for professional boxing since working in the senate will requrie his full attention.

Filipinos will vote for 12 senators in May next year. This is probably why Pacquiao would like his last fight to be done by April in order to ensure that he still has some time to campaign for votes.

Arum said that Philippine senators are held to higher standards than congressmen. The senate is also considered as a training ground for future Presidents. Pacquiao has also made public his aspirations of being President of the Philippines one day.

It seems that the rumored rematch between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will not push through since the former is retiring while the latter has recently quit boxing. Their boxing match was one of the most highly anticipated in recent times and made both boxers rich men.

Boxing fans worldwide, however, were disappointed with the fight which Mayweather won by a unanimous decision. Many experts insist that Mayweather can always come out of retirement if he wants to for a fight against Pacquiao.

Arum said that if Pacquiao is serious about his political career, then he should get out of boxing as soon as possible to reduce the risk of serious injuries that could potentially disrupt his ability to fulfill the duties of a politician.

So far, Pacquiao's last opponent has not yet been named but Terence Crawford, the junior welterweight holder and welterweight boxer Amir Khan, are among the possible contenders.

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