THE wife knows best and in the case of Jinkee Capeña Jamora Pacquiao, her husband Manny Pacquiao quitting boxing is the best decision that he made at this point in time.
It didn’t take long for Jinkee—loved by many and spurned by those envious of the fame and fortune her family has achieved—to openly thank the boxing legend for deciding to retire and embark on a higher level political career.
“After watching your ‘Goodbye Boxing video,’ I remember how worried I [am so much] in every one of your fights especially if your opponent is taller and bigger than you,” Jinkee, who was Sarangani vice governor from 2013 to 2016, wrote on her official social media account.
“But you were always full of faith and you faced all your opponents with courage. I thank the Lord every day that he kept you safe. Thank you for the success. We are filled with gratitude and love, Jesus. Babe, we are always and forever here by your side. I love you,” she concluded in her post.
Jinkee and Pacquiao’s equally celebrity mother Mommy Dionesia or Mommy D, have long asked the Filipino boxing icon to quit when he was knocked out cold by Mexican archrival Juan Manuel Marquez in their third confrontation in December 2012.
Pacquiao didn’t heed and instead fought 11 times more after that. He won eight of those fights.
But in his last fight last August 21 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao no longer showed the ring savvy and quickness—even his punches weren’t lethal anymore.
He staked his 26-year boxing experience but with a 42-year-old body against 35-year-old Cuban Yordenis Ugas, hoping to get back his world welterweight crown taken away from him by the World Boxing Council for not fighting the entire pandemic year 2020.
Pacquiao lost—thanks it was via unanimous decision—and the world, especially Filipinos, wept his misfortune.
And then came Wednesday’s announcement on Facebook.
“Goodbye, boxing…Thank you for changing my life. When my family was desperate, you gave us hope. You gave me the chance to fight our way out of poverty,” Pacquiao told the world. “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 just heard the final bell. Thank you to all of you.”
Next up on the Pacquiao watch will be the filing of his certificate of candidacy for the presidency on Friday.