Manny and Floyd

Iagree with Freddie Roach’s assessment of Manny Pacquiao’s options at this point in the fighting senator’s career; if he comes out slow and sluggish against the young Jeff Horn, it should be time to call it a career at 38 years old.

The Pacman has won everything there is to win in his sport and has set the record for winning titles in eight divisions, starting as a scrawny flyweight up to the super welterweight division before finally setttling in the welterweight division in the past few years.

It’s quite hard to picture that achievement, given the so many weight classes in boxing but picture this. Pacquiao’s first title came at 112 pounds, his victory against Margarito was at the 154-pound division, while his fight against Horn is at the 147 pounds division. That’s quite a range. But boxers, unlike athletes in some sports, are among the most reluctant retirees. Check Jeff Horn’s last foe for example, 39-year-old Ali Funeka who was stopped in the sixth round. At 39, guys like Funeka should be enjoying their savings if they have them.

Then you have Floyd Mayweather Jr., who ended his retirement so he can face Conor McGregor and laugh his way to the bank. Heck, right now, there are talks of a Pacquiao vs. Mayweather rematch. Yaiks. All that is good (for the fighters involved) but are there young stars out there and here in the country who deserve to be given their chances to shine instead of aging fighters who should know better?

And of course, there’s that rather teeny tiny matter of Pacquiao being a senator of the Republic of the Philippines, and I tell you, the times I hear that being pointed out in a TV telecast, I don’t view it as a compli- ment but rather a judgment on the voters.

However, there’s one thing that concerns me about Roach’s statement; I think he said that because he knows Horn will make Manny look younger and faster. Yes, this is boxing, any one has a puncher’s chance to win but against Pacquiao, Horn has as much of a chance as McGregor over Mayweather.

Here’s how I see the script will play out: Pacquiao will beat Horn handily just as Mayweather will win against McGregor and come 2018, we will have the rematch of the Fraud of the Century between two aging future Hall of Famers.

And we’ll gladly go along for the ride.

TICKETS. Tickets for the Ceres Negros vs. Global Cebu game will be sold starting today at the CFA office. Tickets are at P20, P100 and P200. If you want a tip, the best seats are the P100 seats.

Here’s how I see the script will play out: Pacquiao will beat Horn handily just as Mayweather will win against McGregor and come 2018, we will have the rematch of the Fraud of the Century.