Time to ‘hang his gloves’
Unless Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will continue to fight for the money, it’s high time he “hangs his gloves” and retires from boxing now. Manny’s stamina is no longer there unlike when I used to watch him fight against the famous and the giants in his category. Yesterday’s fight against the young, aggressive and undefeated Australian boxer, Jeff Horn, in the welterweight division in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), dubbed the “Battle of Brisbane,” was an “uphill battle” for Manny.
Though, it was a fight against a veteran versus a neophyte, Manny’s experience was no match for the young and aggressive fighter. As I watched the fight, it was practically dominated by Horn, especially in the early rounds. Being the challenger and an undefeated boxer, Horn really tried his best to put up a good fight. Maybe he had in his mind that he had nothing to lose fighting a great boxer. And he emerged victorious.
It was an entertaining fight, more entertaining than the Pacquio-Floyd Mayweather fight because Horn showed his best. In fact, it was a “bloody fight” because Horn suffered an eye cut while Manny suffered two head butts in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively. After experiencing a series of blows from Pacquiao and an accidental push in the eighth round that sent him to the canvass, Horn distanced himself from Manny.
Horn gave a great performance, fighting the fight of his life by constantly putting pressure on Manny. He was hurt badly in the ninth round with the oozing power punches of Pacman. When the referee observed that Horn was not fighting in the ninth round, the referee gave him a warning that he would stop the fight in the succeeding round if Horn would not fight. But Horn, in his desire to win, did not quit and instead gave his best until the 12th and final round. Horn came out throwing everything he had, while Manny oddly did not seem to try to stay away to protect his lead. But it was a unanimous decision of the three judges, 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 in favor of Horn.
I am not a boxing analyst so I cannot give any analysis on why Manny lost the fight. Pilde, pilde gyud. But it was a unanimous decision and we have to respect that. But as we observed, it was not Manny’s best performance because his age is catching up on him.
Boxing is too physical. At 38 years old, Manny is already showing some weakness in his movements compared to when he was in his late 20s and early 30s when he knocked down all the best opponents in his divisions. A human being his age will no longer have the same strength, power and stamina. Og sila pa, magkatiguwang ta, magkaluya man gyud. That is why I am suggesting that it’s time for him to retire. He has nothing to prove. All the accolades, praises, fame and money are already with him.
Why do you think popular sports personalities Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant retired while they were at their best? Because they observed that they could no longer physically compete with young ones. Pero kung panguwrta lang gihapon ang tumong ni Manny, aw, hala away pa more. Naa pa man si Bob Arum, tag-iya sa Top Rank Promotion nga maoy dako’g kita matag away ni Manny.