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Eight-time world champion Manny Pacquiao says retirement is on his mind

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02:  Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines walks back to his corner during the WBO World Welterweight Title Fight against Jeff Horn
Image: Manny Pacquiao admits this could be the end of a 22-year career

Eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has said he will "think hard" about retiring after his stunning and controversial defeat by unheralded Australian challenger Jeff Horn.

Arriving home in the Philippines a day after losing his WBO welterweight title in a major upset in Brisbane on Sunday, 38-year-old Pacquiao said he was thinking about hanging up his gloves for good.

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"I am also considering the opinion of people, the opinion of my family and my body," Pacquiao said.

"I plan to relax first and recover from the pains in my body and then after that, when I have already relaxed, that's when I will think hard about it."

Pacquiao's wife and his trainer, Freddie Roach, had said they would advise him to quit boxing after a 22-year professional career in which he won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02:  Jeff Horn of Australia punches Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines during the WBO World Welterweight Title Fight at Suncorp S
Image: Jeff Horn (left) secured a points victory over Pacquiao on Sunday

Pacquiao briefly retired from boxing last year to pursue his long-held political ambitions and was elected senator. But he quickly made a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in November, saying he still felt like a youngster.

The 29-year-old Horn's ultra-aggressive style proved too much for Pacquiao, with the three judges scoring the fight 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 to the Australian after 12 rounds.

On Monday, Pacquiao questioned the decisions of American referee Mark Nelson.

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"There is no problem with the style of Jeff Horn if he plays dirty, because there is a referee," Pacquiao said.

"The problem here is that the referee, I don't know if he did it deliberately or he just did not have experience, he just allowed it and did not even give any warning for how many times. It's as if the referee wanted to help my opponent."

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