• Manny Pacquiao v Brandon Rios

Pacquiao may retire after Rios fight

ESPN staff
November 13, 2013
Manny Pacquiao is preparing in General Santos for his fight with Brandon Rios © Getty Images
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Manny Pacquiao could hang up his gloves after his bout with Brandon Rios this month, according to his trainer Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao will face Rios in Macau on November 24, and Roach said if the fight "does not go well, we will seriously talk about his retirement."

The Filipino has suffered back-to-back defeats against Timothy Bradley and a sixth-round knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez, though Roach said Pacquiao is training well.

In recent years Pacquiao has juggled his boxing career with outside commitments such as his role as a Philippines congressman.

"It's really hard to say until we see the fight, but I will be the first one to tell him to retire," Roach said. "We have an agreement that as soon as I tell him that, he will retire."

However, Roach added, "I don't see him slipping in the ring at all."

The pair are preparing for the Rios fight in the southern city of General Santos, which was not affected by the typhoon which recently hit the east coast of the Philippines, killing thousands and leaving more than half a million homeless.

Pacquiao even wanted to leave training to help with the relief efforts, Roach has revealed.

"It's way too close to the fight, he needs to double down," Roach said. Pacquiao was granted most of Wednesday off though, allowing him to help out.

Roach also says Pacquiao is showing no sign of inhibition after the brutal nature of his knockout against Marquez, where he fell face first to the canvas.

"I know people are sceptical about that. Manny is a realist. He accepts it. It does not bother him," Roach said. "If you don't think you're going to be knocked out, you've got the wrong sport."

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