Clottey Could be Pacquiao's Last Professional Boxing Fight

Upon arrival on hero's welcome in the Philippines, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao hinted at retirement any time soon as he embarks on his journey to another challenging fight of his career.

The Filipino boxing superstar is set to rejoin the political contest after his failed attempt to get elected in his last bid for a congressional seat in his district in southern Philippines. Pacquiao is campaigning on his platform of poverty alleviation under the party of former Senate president Manny Villar who is fighting neck and neck in the poll surveys for the presidency.

The popular Filipino boxer said he wants to help poverty stricken constituents in their fight for economic survival. But the real reason according to Pacquiao is his mother's insistent prodding for him to quit boxing for good, saying his health may be jeopardized. "I am very happy that I have returned to the Philippines to be with my children. I thank everyone who supported and prayed for me in my last fight," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao returned to his country after defeating Joshua Clottey of Ghana in a 12-round unanimous decision that drew criticism from boxing fans around the world for what boxing experts say was Pacquiao's most boring fight considering his known offensive and dominating stance whenever he climbs the ring.

But Clottey was mostly blamed for not engaging Pacquiao, choosing to survive the 12-round assault by the pound-for-pound champion by rarely throwing punches.

The highly publicized match took place at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas last March 13 and watched by more than 50 million fans from across the USA and and around the world on pay-per-view cable TV coverage.

(original article appeared @ Digital Journal )