Manny Pacquiao hanging it up in 2016, says Bob Arum

Manny Pacquiao spends his free time reading the Bible and gaining strength from God's love and wisdom.(Instagram/Manny Pacquiao)

Whether you take it seriously or not, Manny Pacquiao retirement talks are up in the air again and this time they come from no less than his promoter Bob Arum.

Word about Pacquiao going full steam as far as his political career is concerned is nothing new but this time, it looks like he is dead serious.

In a report from TMZ Sports, Arum bared that Pacquiao is indeed primed for a fight in 2016 but adds that it may be the Filipino boxing icon's last.

"I think Manny will retire once he's elected to the Senate of the Philippines which is next year ... he's gonna hang up the gloves," Arum said.

The Philippines will be holding its national elections in May of next year and it is a known fact that Pacquiao will be gunning for a seat in the Senate. But it seems that the current Saranggani congressman's political ambitions go as far as the country's presidency, something that has, of course, drawn mixed reactions from his countrymen.

While Pacquiao has indeed done more than enough by bringing glory to the Philippines through boxing, not too many believe that he is suited to run a country.

Pacquiao is willing to serve and dedicate his time to the Filipino people but the fact remains that running a country is a totally different matter and involves more than that. Regardless and no matter what others think, the fact is the final decision rests in the hands of the first and only eight-division world boxing champion.

Going back to his expected ring return in 2016, there is no official word yet on whom he would be facing, although the name of Amir Khan has been abuzz.

There are those who believe that he could be eyeing a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. as well, despite the fact that the two have been denying such.