A GOLDEN FAREWELL?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 13 Apr 2016
Have we seen the last Manny Pacquiao fight?
Boxing pundits are divided over the certainty of his retirement.
Pacquiao?s performance against Timothy Bradley over the weekend showed that he is still head and shoulders above any fighter within his weight range whose name is not Floyd Mayweather.
We have not seen a KO from him since 2009 but Pacquiao showed that the boxing knowledge that he accumulated through the years was enough to dominate a difficult and accomplished opponent. Pacquiao?s ability to find angles and position himself to land punches, is still a sight to behold.
The fight was a career gamble of sorts for Bradley, having relinquished the WBO welterweight world title last February. He was supposed to face the mandatory challenger Sadam Ali but opted to fight Pacquiao, a bigger payday and a potential career defining moment if Bradley had won.
The WBO super champions belt is a fitting tribute to the winner. When Bradley gave up his belt, WBO President Paco Valcarcel issued a statement saying that ? I am pleased to inform you that we are preparing a special recognition for the Pacquiao vs Bradley III winner?two remarkable fighters and worthy ambassadors to the WBO.?
Still, hats off to Bradley for a gutsy display. A lesser man would have crumbled after the second knockdown but he finished on his feet.
For almost a decade, Pacquiao transformed into a crossover star and a known worldwide figure. So where does he go from here?
He will have the senatorial elections to look forward to here in the Philippines. He is among the leaders as far as surveys are concerned. But anyone who grew up here knows that elections are theaters of the bizarre and unexpected.
But even when his ?retirement? is a mere few days old, there are those who long to see inside the ring once again. There is the lure of giving the Philippines its first ever Olympic gold medal.
Pacquiao is the crown jewel of our country?s golden age of boxing. But the luster is on the professional side of the sweet science. We still long to hear our national anthem being played after a Filipino boxer?s hand is raised victorious in an Olympic final. Will Pacquiao take the offer seriously?
Names like Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford and of course, a rematch with Mayweather are being floated around. But I don?t think fans are willing to go through another half a decade of speculation, hype and trash talking for Pacquiao-Mayweather II.
Pacquiao?s legacy has been sealed. He doesn?t need the money. But the great ones have always found it hard to walk away from addicting cheers of the crowd.
I was already old enough to appreciate the tragedy on TV when I watched Muhammad Ali being battered by Larry Holmes. The sight of the great Roberto Duran carrying the WBO belt intended for the winner of Pacquiao-Bradley III reminded me of the time when the Hands of Stone was 47 years old and being pummeled by William Joppy.
One of Duran?s legendary rivals ? Sugar Ray Leonard ? made an ill-fated final comeback after being inactive for six years and was stopped by Hector Camacho in round five.
Pacquiao should follow the examples of Rocky Marciano, Joe Calzaghe and Lennox Lewis. His victory against Bradley is already a fine ending to an extraordinary career.
Thank you for the memories, Manny.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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