By Don Donatello
Pacquiao has claimed that he has a purpose that was imposed on him by his God. That time may just have played itself last night. Imagine the impact on boxing if Manny Pacquiao would announce his displeasure of the decision in which he lost and then say he is retiring from boxing.
As of now, the loss of Pacquiao from last night’s fight is even surpassing other events in sports that are very news worthy. Also from last night, the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics in a game 7 for Eastern Conference title. If Pacquiao got the deserved win in his bout with Timothy Bradley last night, the Miami/Boston game would be the main news in sport. But today the main news in sport is the controversial loss suffered by Pacquiao to Tim Bradley.
Pacquaio needs to strike while the iron is hot. Boxing would be under a microscope immediately if Pacquiao retires from boxing. There would be the much wanted and much deserved investigation of boxing judges CJ Ross and Duane Ford, the two that gave the win to Timothy Bradley with the score of 113 – 115, and with that the investigation will carry over to boxing itself.
Besides, Pacquiao has significantly lost a step or two from what I saw last night. The Pacquiao of 3-4 years ago would have finished Tim Bradley when he got him in trouble in the early rounds. Pacquiao could not finish an opponent that was clearly in trouble. Since 2009, he was not able to put away any of his last five opponents, he decisioned Joshua Clottey (3/2010), Antonio Margarito (11/2010), Shane Mosley (5/2011), Juan Manuel Marquez (11/2011), and lost to Timothy Bradley (6/2012).
Four previous fights before the last five fights, he stopped all four of his opponent. He scored a 9th round KO of David Diaz in 6/2008, stopped Oscar De La Hoya in 8 rounds in 12/2008, knocked out Ricky Hatton in two rounds in 5/2009, and then TKO’d Miguel Cotto in the final round in 11/2009.
Clearly Manny has not been the same fighter. Yes, he did beat and dominate Timothy Bradley last night. But Bradley is not on the level that is considered a very good fighter. He is a B level fighter at best, and Pacquiao should have been able to knock him out. Last night’s fight should not be the indicator that keeps Manny continuing his boxing career.
I already feel that Pacquiao is on the path as previous fighters who fought too long into their waning years. Pacquiao can have an earth-shattering effect on boxing if he announces his retirement within a week and that there will be no rematch with Timothy Bradley. That news would be the fuel that ignite the flames of change in boxing throughout.
Today, Manny Pacquiao is the biggest name and most recognizable boxer on the planet. He is the biggest news in boxing, and in sport in general today. Imagine, the man that changed the face of boxing forever is a Filipino. That can happen if Manny Pacquiao retires and announces it while the iron is hot.
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