Philippine boxing icon Pacquiao won`t retire

Manila: Philippine boxing icon Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao said Wednesday he won`t retire yet despite his recent defeat against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.

The southpaw, along with his wife and Team Pacquiao support staff, arrived here Wednesday morning from the US, reports Xinhua "We`ll rise again. We will still fight," Pacquiao told reporters. This, despite pleas from his wife Jinkee, and mother, Dionisia to give up boxing. Dionisia has requested his son to focus on his other interests. Pacquiao serves as a congressman in the southern Philippine province of Sarangani and also hosts a television game show. But Pacquiao said that he would just take a break for a few months, then he will continue with his training. He thanked the Filipino people for their continued support. Pacquiao, a former eight-division world champion, was knocked out by Marquez in the sixth round of their non-title fight in Las Vegas, Saturday. IANS