Bernard Hopkins Urges Manny Pacquiao To Forget Boxing And 'Run' His Country

Bernard Hopkins has an important advice for Manny Pacquiao.

Longevity is something not all professional boxers have. Among the few who have managed to enjoy a lasting career in the sport are Pacquiao and Hopkins.

Like the “Pac-Man,” Hopkins too fought a wide array of world champions from different eras.

While some are convinced that Pacquiao still has a lot left in his tank, “B-Hop” is already urging the Filipino boxer to consider calling it a career.

For Hopkins, Pacquiao should now focus on how he could run his country and forget about boxing.

“I hope [Manny] Pacquiao change his mind,” Hopkins recently told Elie Seckbach of EsNews. “I hope he runs the country, I hope. He can do a lot for that country.”

Hopkins last fought in 2016 at age 51. The former multi-division champ suffered a humiliating KO loss to the much younger Joe Smith Jr.

When asked about how a fighter would know when to finally hang the gloves, the 56-year-old pointed out that he has to be true to himself as all boxers know when they are done.

“When you done, you done,” he stressed. “Normally you gotta be honest with yourself and it’s the individual who know themselves more than anybody. More than anybody! The question should be ‘what you fighting for’. What was it all you are so fighting for?”

Pacquiao will be turning 43 on December 17. Many, including his long-time trainer Freddie Roach, are starting to think that the upset loss to WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas marked the beginning of the end for the future Hall of Famer.

However, according to Pacquiao’s personal assistant, the world’s only eight-division titlist isn’t done yet and will be making another comeback in either “December” or “early January” next year.

Despite being handed a devastating loss, Pacquiao is still brimming with confidence and insisted that Ugas was “one of the easiest” opponents he has ever faced.

Moreover, he is looking forward to a possible rematch against the Cuban champ in January.

"In my entire career, [Yordenis] Ugas was one of the easiest opponents," Pacquiao assessed. "[Ugas] only had one style, and I should've been able to easily move away, you've seen how I have moved in my fights before. I couldn't move in this fight. My legs just stopped."

"I can come back in January,” he added. “I will see about it. I know I can rematch [Ugas] if I want.”