Koncz to Pacquiao: Hang up your gloves

Manny Pacquiao will have plenty of time to think about his future, including the possibility of retirement from boxing.

As Pacquiao recovers from surgery to repair his torn rotator cuff he suffered during training and got aggravated in his 12-round unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather last May 2 in Las Vegas, the likelihood of hanging up his gloves is among those on the table.

“We might even retire (from boxing),” Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz said yesterday from Los Angeles. “He’s been in boxing for a long time and it’s time for him to spend time with his family.”

This early, doctors have ruled out a fight before the year comes to a close since Pacquiao will require at least four months of complete rest and rehabilitation before lacing up on a pair of gloves for training.

Koncz, who began his tenure as adviser in 2005, had even told the 36-yearold Pacquiao that “whatever happens in this fight (with Mayweather), I think it would be best for you to retire.”

Besides, Koncz feels the two decades of fighting has clearly shown “wear and tear in his body.”

The prospects of retirement could indeed be considered since Mayweather has said in an interview that he is no longer keen on giving the Filipino southpaw a rematch just days after saying he might give in to the demand for a second meeting.

Told about Mayweather’s desire to meet him, Pacquiao was quick to show some interest as it will be an opportunity for him to redeem himself.

But with the injury bothering him and giving him a little bit of discomfort, Pacquiao expressed more concern about the long process of recovery.

“My concern now is for the injury to heal completely.”

Mayweather’s sudden change of heart stems from Pacquiao’s pronouncements that his injury deeply affected him during the fight although Pacquiao has acknowledged that the unbeaten 38year-old American was the better man that night at the MGM Grand.

Meanwhile, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez knocked out James Kirkland with a sweeping right at 2:19 of the third round in their 154-pound fight in Houston.

Moments after getting off the canvas after being decked with a flurry of punches, Kirkland took the devastating knockout punch and collapsed to the floor on his back. (With a report from the Associated Press)