MANILA (Reuters) -Boxing star Manny Pacquiao, who is planning to run for president in the 2022 Philippine elections, said on Wednesday he was retiring from boxing to focus on the biggest fight in his political career https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/boxer-manny-pacquiao-nominated-presidential-candidate-philippines-2022-election-2021-09-19.

Pacquiao is a Philippine senator, who had been splitting his time between fighting and politics. He made his announcement via a 14 minute video that he posted to his Facebook page (NASDAQ:).

“I just heard that final bell. “Boxing is done,” declared Pacquiao. He was the last man to have world title in all eight divisions.

Pacquiao said that he never imagined this day, and thanked the fans from all around the globe.

Pacquiao, who was known for his lightning speed and quick feet, is considered one of the most offensive fighters of all time.

Veteran promoter Bob Arum in 2010 said he was unmatched, and rated him better than Muhammad Ali https://reut.rs/3okAUyR. Arum stated to Reuters, “His left- and righthand hit with equal power. That is what destroys him opponents.”

In August, the 42-year-old lost a WBA welterweight world title match https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/pacquiao-beaten-by-ugas-welterweight-title-fight-considers-his-future-2021-08-22 against Cuban Yordenis Ugas.

Pacquiao grew up in poverty, so he took on odd jobs just to make ends meet. As a teenager, he sailed on a boat from the south to Manila where he began competitive boxing.

Pacquiao supported Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, as well as his attempt to revive the death penalty.

After Pacquiao’s criticism of Duterte’s close relationship with China, and his corruption as a government official, their political relationships soured. In July, he was ousted as president of the country’s ruling political party https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-pacquiao-ousted-president-ruling-party-after-row-2021-07-17.

His political career began with a failed attempt to run for Congress in 2007. In 2010, he was elected to the lower chamber of Congress as a representative for the south Sarangani region.

The two-term congressman was elected for a six-year term in the upper chamber in 2016 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-election-pacquiao-idUSKCN0YA1AB.