INTERNATIONAL: As expected, boxing star Manny Pacquiao has confirmed his retirement from the sport and says he will run for president of Philippines next year. He’s spent much of the past few years railing against corruption in his country’s government and what he calls President Rodrigo Duterte's “cozy relationship” with China. Pacquiao has been a Philippines senator since 2016.

Born into a poor family in the southern Philippines, Pacquiao started his professional boxing career at the age of 16. He quickly gained popularity with his constant wins and knockouts against some of the biggest names in the game. He went onto become named "Fighter of the Decade" by international boxing associations and was nicknamed the "pound for pound king" by his fans.

One of his biggest fights was his showdown with American boxer Floyd Mayweather in 2015. He lost it on points, but it was a fight that would take him into politics and into the Philippines’ senate in 2016. He remains a national idol, but unseating Duterte could well become the biggest fight of his life.

^{PHOTO: STILL PHOTOS OF FILIPINO BOXER AND POLITICIAN MANNY PACQUIAO FIGHTING VARIOUS BOXERS, PACQUIAO BEING SWORN IN AS A LAWMAKER, CROWD IN THE PHILIPPINES WATCHING PACQUIAO'S FIGHTS}