By Yannis Mihanos: Finishing on top is an admirable way to retire. Former eight-time world champion Manny Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) wanted to end boxing on a high note looking as good and as sharp as he could get last Saturday night in his final fight of his career against Tim Bradley (33-2-1, 13 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao did that very well.
Bradley tried his best, following for most of the time the good insights by coach Teddy Atlas. In fact, this was by far his best performance in the Pacquiao-Bradley three-fight series. The problem was that for Pacquiao too was the best performance in the series and in years.
About his imminent retirement if you ask my opinion I would say this is the right way to retire.
When your tank is still half full and your heart is still at the right place. When everybody asks you to continue rather than demanding for you to retire.
Time will tell whether that will be his final word. Exciting new offers for mega fights will not stop just yet.
But for now that’s about it with boxing and Pacquiao, now his focus can turn into politics and helping his country from a different position.
Boxing never dies, new stars will continue to come out even if it will take some time to find somebody equal like Pacquiao.
His great adversary Floyd Mayweather Jr. watched the heartfelt response from the audience and of course he didn’t like it.
There is one thing that even defeats and titles cannot take and that is the instant recognition that Pacquiao continues to get all these years.
It’s certain that people will support him if he decides to fight again. That, unfortunately for Mayweather can never happen as people will always recognize him as the bad guy.
One thing though that about everybody recognizes is that Welterweight division became the best division thanks to these two stars.
Pacquiao is going back to his home country and the celebrations may continue.
It is not difficult for Pacquiao to return. If money is a problem he can come back and grab some more, if passion is an issue he can still comeback and have a blast once again with his best pal and coach Freddie Roach, if revenge is an issue then he will definitely consider coming back for another crack against Mayweather.
These are all possibilities and scenarios especially for us writers to keep going with new articles.
For now, all I can do is salute one of the great champs of our time and wish him the best of luck.
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