Manny Pacquiao, widely regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, may quit the fight game because his mother has begged him to retire.

Pacquiao was welcomed home by hundreds of fans, including politicians, at Manila's airport early yesterday before he went to mass at a Roman Catholic church in the capital's old commercial district of Quiapo.

The boxer, who retained his WBO welterweight title against Ghana's Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Texas, is standing for election in national polls on May 10.

"I might retire," Pacquiao told reporters.

"My mother has been begging me to stop fighting, so we'll talk about this."

Boxing fans are hoping Pacquiao will stick around long enough to fight American Floyd Mayweather. Their hotly anticipated welterweight bout was called off in January, partly due to a dispute over drug testing procedures.

"After my fight with (Miguel) Cotto, I asked her to allow me to fight one last time and she agreed," added Pacquiao.

"Now, she's asking me again to retire, what will I tell her now?"

On Friday, Pacquiao climbs into the political ring, seeking a seat in the lower house of Congress in Sarangani province as the campaign period for local positions starts across the country.

In 2007, he ran and lost in his first attempt to become a lawmaker.

Pacquiao, nicknamed Pac-Man, said he would talk to his family about the future of his boxing career before making a decision, and said his political ambitions were not a contributing factor.

"I have been in boxing for a long time and I have given so many honours to my country.

"Even without the elections and the politics, my retirement will largely depend on my family's decision," he said.

Pacquiao was honoured by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and then toured Manila's narrow streets as thousands cheered and waved at his motorcade, shouting his name.