By Max Schramm: MP President Sean Gibbons says the root cause of Manny Pacquiao’s loss to WBA Super World welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas last Saturday was his legs not responding the way they had several years ago.
Pacquiao’s legs cramped up in the fourth round, making it impossible for him to move around the ring and attack at angles. However, Pacquiao looked slow on his feet from the first round, and things got progressively worse as the night wore on.
Gibbons attributes the 42-year-old Pacquiao’s issues with his legs to the 25 months of inactivity that he had leading up to last Saturday’s ill-fated title challenge of the hard-hitting Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
As for Pacquiao’s plans, Gibbons is unsure. Although he would like to see Pacquiao return for a fight with Errol Spence Jr. or Floyd Mayweather Jr, he doesn’t know what the senator will elect to do next.
Pacquiao has higher goals for his future than boxing with his political career in the Philippines, and he may choose to walk away from the sport.
Manny cannot extend his career by doing exhibition matches the way 44-year-old Floyd Mayweather Jr is doing.
Yordenis had too much size and power on Pacquiao, making it difficult for the senator to get in punching range to land his shots. Repeatedly, Pacquiao was coming up short when he would throw his shots.
It was hard for Pacquiao to get in range to land without getting caught by big shots from the Ugas.
Pacquiao’s legs weren’t working
“I think the senator [Pacquiao] gave his all tonight. At 42-years-old and eight months, the legs just weren’t working like they used to, and some things didn’t go right,” said MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons to Little Giant Boxing.
“Ugas’ style was a little more difficult than anticipated, and hats off to Ugas, that was his night,” Gibbons continued. “I’m not saying it hurt him, but the style was a little more difficult than anticipated. That’s really what it is.
“The senator’s [Pacquiao] legs weren’t doing what they were several years ago. Being out of the ring for 25 and a lot of different variables add up. You win some; you lose some,” said Gibbons.
Pacquiao said after the fight that he’d been doing a lot of running in the hills and sparring 32 rounds per day during training camp.
Manny believes it was too much, resulting in his legs being tight and unresponsive during the fight with Ugas.
It’s obviously too late for Pacquiao to do anything about his preparation, but if he does continue his career, he now knows he can’t overdo it.
As I mentioned earlier, the size, arm length, and punching power of Yordenis may have been too much for Pacquiao.
Gibbons hopes Pacquiao returns
“If you look at the crowd tonight, electric. Everything was electric; everything was still Manny Pacquiao,” said Gibbons. “If he chooses to have one last fight, great.
“If he does, he’s got a lot of higher, better, and more powerful things to do with his life,” Gibbons said of Pacquiao. “He gave 27 years to boxing, and it’s been an amazing run. We’ll see what happens.
“We just have to see first. Let him [Pacquiao] rest up and see what happens,” Gibbons said when asked about the possibility of Pacquiao still fighting Errol Spence Jr.
“It’s just an unfortunate night. Anything is possible. That would be a great farewell for both of them,” Gibbons said about the possibility of Floyd Mayweather Jr. choosing to fight Pacquiao in an exhibition match.
Mayweather might choose to take on Pacquiao after seeing him lose, but we’ll have to wait and see. If not, Pacquiao can always come back to fight Errol Spence Jr. or possibly Mikey Garcia in a farewell bout.
Spence’s career is still on shaky footing, with him suffering a left retinal tear in his eye.
If Spence does come back, it won’t be until 2022. By then, Pacquiao will likely have retired permanently and will no longer be interested in a fight with Spence.
“Floyd [Mayweather Jr.] gone f*** around & fight Manny again,” said WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney on his Twitter.
