Manny Pacquiao endured a discouraging unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas on Saturday night. After the loss, he sounded like a fighter on his way out and a politician on his way up.

Pacquiao did not hide behind excuses or denial after the loss although he revealed that his legs cramped throughout the fight on the Vegas Strip, depriving him of the mobility that has always made his power so dangerous.

The eight-division world champion acknowledged that he deserved his loss to Ugas. And that might be a good reason to walk away.

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“This sport is my passion. That’s why I am still here fighting at the age of 42. I am enjoying it, but sometimes you have to think about the response of your body. My mind, my heart, it is 100%. But my legs were cramping,” Pacquiao was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

In the moments after he returned from a two-year ring absence with the loss to the rangy, resilient Ugas, Pacquiao repeatedly hinted he is planning to retire from boxing.

He is still alongside Canelo Álvarez as the two biggest active stars in the sport, yet Pacquiao has never spoken so frankly about leaving behind 26 years in the pro-fight game.

“I have done a lot for boxing, and boxing has done a lot for me. I look forward to spending a lot of time thinking about my future in boxing,” Pacquiao said.

The Filipino senator’s next fight is probably in the political ring: He is widely expected to enter the presidential race in the Philippines next month ahead of the May 2022 election.

“In my heart, I want to continue to fight. But the thing is, I also have to consider my body. I have put it through a lot of things. Especially back in my country, there’s a lot of things that I need to accomplish to help people. I want to be an inspiration to the Philippine people inside and outside the ring,” Pacquiao said, according to AP.

Countless athletes have struggled mightily to find worthwhile ways to fill their time after retirement. That wouldn’t be a problem for Pacquiao: His chaotic life won’t get less busy, but it could be a bit more focused with only one career to consider.

If Pacquiao retires, he leaves boxing as one of the greats of his generation. Along with his stunning array of championship belts and his groundbreaking mobility across the sport’s weight classes, Pacquiao will be remembered for his utter fearlessness in taking on countless larger foes without blinking.