Manny Pacquiao retirement: Five reasons why the Filipino legend's legacy will never be equaled in the ring

Pacquiao, 42, goes out with one of the greatest resumes the sport has ever seen

Although the news was far from a shocker given his political goals, age and most recent performance, Wednesday's retirement of Filipino icon and eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao at 42 still hit like a ton of bricks.  

Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) had already announced his intention of running for president next year in his native Philippines, the same country where he has served as a senator since 2016. No, this wasn't a case of "don't know what you got until it's gone," especially since Pacquiao more or less foreshadowed the decision after his upset decision loss to WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas in August.

It's just that, for most modern boxing fans, it's hard to remember a time in which Pacquiao wasn't front and center in their fandom given his unrivaled blend of excitement, skill and class over a remarkable 26-year pro career. And then there was the moments -- and, oh boy, were there a ton of them considering Pacquiao fought just about every name that mattered over multiple eras regardless of weight or the prospect of danger.