Manny Pacquiao has officially confirmed his retirement from boxing.
The 42-year-old Filipino senator is due to run for his country’s presidency next year and the move had been anticipated for some time as he already found it difficult to combine a political career with action in the ring.
A decision was made easier when he lost to Yordenis Ugas upon his return, with the Cuban a late replacement for Errol Spence Jr, who required treatment for an eye injury and had to drop out of the originally planned fight.
In a statement on social media, Pacquiao explained his decision.
"As I hang up my boxing gloves, I would like to thank the whole world, especially the Filipino people for supporting Manny Pacquiao. Goodbye boxing," he said.
"It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over. Today I am announcing my retirement."
His record stands at 72 fights, 62 wins, eight losses and two draws, and he finishes as an eight-weight world champion - an achievement no fighter has matched.
"Thank you for changing my life, when my family was desperate, you gave us hope, you gave me the chance to fight my way out of poverty," Pacquiao continued. "Because of you, I was able to inspire people all over the world. Because of you I have been given the courage to change more lives. I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life that I can't imagine. I just heard the final bell. The boxing is over. "