PACQUIAO: "LET ME ENJOY A LIFE OF RETIREMENT"
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 10 Apr 2016
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- There used to be a fighter named Manny Pacquiao, the Philippines' superhero, who in a span of seven years, had established a 15 straight winning run, eight of them by way of knockouts on the way to becoming the only man in the universe to capture 10 titles in eight weight divisions.
That title victory run from 2005 to 2011 netted for the left-handed Kibawe, Bukidnon-born Pacquiao world championships in the WBC super-featherweight, WBC lightweight. IBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight, WBO welerweight and WBC supdr-welterweight.
Add the WBC flyweight, IBF uper-bantamweight and Ring featherweight he had won earlier in his career to complete that eight-division conquest that no one can ever duplicate.
A loss to American Timothy Bradley via questionable split decision in 2012 and another, a bitter sixth round stoppage the same year not only interrupted the winning streak, but likewise triggered rumors that the now Philippine Congressman was worn down.
Pacquiao sends Bradley tumbling on the canvas in the 9th round during their WBO welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night. Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea.
But no, the "Fighter of the Decade" vaulted back alive with a triple whammy, including an overwhelming payback versus Bradley himself, who suffered his first defeat in the next two years only to lose anew to arch-enemy Floyd Mayweather Jr. further flaming speculation he's, indeed on the way out.
Saturday night, Pacquiao was back. And back he was that even Bradley, the two-time champion, thinks he should not retire. "Not yet."
It was short of the Filipino ring icon teaching the pride of Palm Springs in California a neat boxing lesson, from the opening round on, which the judges -- Dave Moretti, Burt Clements and Steve Wiesfeld -- awarded to Bradley.
Pacquiao, unleashing his signature power and speed that knocked out future Hall of Famers Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar DeLa Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, dropped Bradley in the seventh and 10th rounds before relaxing a bit the rest of the way.
All three judges gave Pacquiao seven rounds each in turning in a unanimous identical scores 116-110.
The contest was close the first seven rounds despite the first knockdown. The Pacman took four of the last that accounted for the final six-point difference.
Pacquiao was all praise for Bradley for giving a good fight to the delight of the 14,665 near sellout crowd in the 15,000-seat MGM Grand Arena.
He even invited Bradley to attend Sunday's bible study he will be conducting to which the latter said he will oblige.
All questions in the traditional post-fight press conference were centered on his planned retirement he announced earlier to which Pacquiao answered in the affirmative.
"Yes, I have made my decision. I have a commitment to my family and besides my focus now is to serve my countrymen through government service," the senatorial candidate in the coming elections a month from now said.
When the issue of coming back persisted, Pacquiao relented saying, "Let me first enjoy a life of retirement. I have never experience that, so allow me to and after living a life of retirement, that's the time I will think about coming back."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Scariest Division in Boxing
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 01 Nov 2024"Worcester Championship Boxing" Official Weights
Fri, 01 Nov 2024SCHOFIELD VS. TELLEZ GIRON FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 01 Nov 2024WEIGHTS FROM ORLANDO FLORIDA
Fri, 01 Nov 2024Team USA Sends Five Boxers to the World Boxing U19 Championship Finals and a Chance at Gold
Fri, 01 Nov 2024Press Conference Notes: Robson Conceição and O'Shaquie Foster Promise to Settle Rivalry in Saturday's World Title Rematch
Fri, 01 Nov 2024Undefeated bantamweight prospect Dominique “Dimes” Crowder Ready to cash in on The Boardwalk
Fri, 01 Nov 2024Kevin Arquero rules 3rd Fide Master Angelito Z. Camer Rapid Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 31 Oct 2024Plania stops Julio in 3rd round
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 31 Oct 2024MARIO "EL AZTECA" BARRIOS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
Thu, 31 Oct 2024Mama fails to win WBO NABO fly
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 31 Oct 2024Top Rank Presents Junior Lightweight World Championship: Robson Conceição vs. O'Shaquie Foster 2
Thu, 31 Oct 2024Membership of World Boxing rises to 51 National Federations after it approves applications from seven more countries
Thu, 31 Oct 2024Malik Scott in Zurdo Ramirez’ corner
Thu, 31 Oct 2024GM Daniel Quizon favorite in the Kamatyas Rapid Open chess tournament in Isabela
Thu, 31 Oct 2024