Eight division world champion and Philippines senator Manny Pacquiao has decided to retire from boxing. In a social media post the 42-year-old described the his retirement as the “hardest decision” of his life.

“It is difficult for me to accept that my time for me as a boxer is over,” Pacquiao said in a video message posted on Twitter. He plans to run in the country’s next presidential elections. 

“To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you! Thank you for all the wonderful memories. This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but I’m at peace with it. Chase your dreams, work hard, and watch what happens. Good bye boxing,” he said. 

In his 26-year career, Pacquia participated in 72 fights and finished with 62 wins, eight losses and two draws. Of those 62 wins, 39 were by knockout and 23 by decision. He won 12 world titles.

Pacquiao was known as one of the best offensive fighters in the sport’s history. He was named the Fighter of the Decade for the 2000s. In 2010, the veteran promoter Bob Arum said that he was better than Muhammad Ali. “His left and right hand hit with equal power and that is what destroys his opponents,” Arum told Reuters.

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Pacquiao started his political career with failed congressional run in 2007. He won a seat at the lower house of congress in 2010, representing the southern Sarangani province. The two-term congressman was elected for a six-year term in the upper chamber in 2016.

On August 21, Pacquiao lost to Yordenis Ugas in Paradise, Nevada in a  unanimous decision. 

“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 said in the video.

“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. “