Manny Pacquiao says goodbye to boxing as legendary eight-weight world champion retires, aged 42, and prepares to run for president of the Philippines

Manny Pacquiao has confirmed he is retiring from boxing at the age of 42, calling it 'the hardest decision I’ve ever made'.

The legendary eight-weight world champion, who held world titles across four different decades, will be remembered as one of the greatest boxers of all time and now wants to run for president in his native Philippines.

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Writing on Twitter, he said: "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."

In September, a month after his last fight - a loss to Yordenis Ugas, he spelled out his plans for the next stage of his life.

"I boldly accept the challenge of running as President of the Philippines," he said.

"We need progress. We need to win against poverty. We need government to serve our people with integrity, compassion and transparency. The time is now. I am ready to rise to the challenge of leadership."

On his decision to hang up his gloves, Pacquiao told his love for the sport kept him coming back to the ring.

"I've been boxing for a long time and my family would always tell me that it's time to stop," he said.

"I just kept going because I'm so passionate about boxing.

"But now I'll just support boxers so that we can have a champion again."

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Pacquiao rose up out of poverty in the Philippines through boxing and first became a flyweight world champion in 1998.

He made his US debut in 2001 and slowly built his way up through the weight classes, becoming a global phenomenon.

Pacquiao shared huge fights with, among others, Juan Manuel Marquez (x4), Erik Morales (x3), Timothy Bradley (x3), Oscar De La Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Keith Thurman.

Most famous of all though, was his money spinning super fight with Floyd Mayweather, which ended in a unanimous decision defeat in 2015.

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Pacquiao reflected: "When I started boxing, who would've thought- I was a kid selling bread before.

"If I tell you that I'd be world champion and I'd be known all over the world, would you believe me?

"You'd say that seems impossible."

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