Boxing People Still Want Pacquiao To Fight

Boxing managers, promoters, trainers and fellow Filipino boxers think that 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao can still fight and should postpone his retirement after scoring a convincing unanimous decision against Timothy Bradley last Sunday.

“Ok pa si Manny, puwede pa I match kahit sinong boxer pa diyan kahit si (Floyd) Mayweather pa (Manny is still ok. He can still be matched with any of the boxers even Mayweather),” said Raides “Nonoy” Neri, one of Pacquiao’s assistant trainers in a text message.

Sanman Promotions chief executive officer Jim Claude Manangquil, on the other hand, said that he had changed his opinion on Pacquiao’s retirement.

“I’ve changed my opinion about Manny retiring after this. I think he can still go for one more big fight with that kind of performance. Pacquiao showed his old form and a very good performance,” said the 23-year-old boxing promoter-manager from General Santos City.

WBC 2015 Asia Pacific Promoter of the Year Brico Santig of Highlands Promotion said that Pacquiao showed that he can still catch up with his opponents and also has that knockout power.

“However, he might have no more time to fight if he gets elected as Senator. He will be very busy already,” said Santig, who just arrived from Bangkok, Thailand.

Santig’s prized fighter Rey “Singwancha” Loreto, the reigning IBO world light flyweight champion and two-time Gabriel Elorde Boxer of the Year awardee, said that Pacquiao should not yet retire after scoring a convincing win.

Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas, who slated to challenge International Boxing Federation (IBF) world super flyweight champion McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico on April 16 at the Strike Coliseum in Bacoor, Cavite also thinks Pacquiao should still fight.

“He can really still fight. It was a great fight although sometimes Bradley was already hesitating to attack probably he’s scared to get hit again,” said Ancajas.

However, WBF International featherweight champion John Rey “Mulawin” Moralde of Davao City thinks Pacquiao should already retire.

“Condition masyado si Pacman. Maingat din siya sa kanyang mga kilos. Pero dapat na din siguro siyang mag retire kasi may edad na rin siya. Mahirap na baka my mangyaring masama pa sa kanya (Pacman was very conditioned. He was also very careful in his moves. But he should really now retire because he has aged also. It will be unfortunate if something happens to him),” said the 21-year-old Moralde.

But Moralde of the Sanman Stable said that all the boxers and even those who are not are all happy for his victory.

Former world-rated boxer Edito Villamor, chief trainer of ALA Stable, said that he thinks Pacquiao will not yet retire after giving an exciting fight.

Villamor thinks that the third fight was more exciting and better than the first two bouts.

“Pacman was careful this time and was not in a hurry for a knockout even though he scored two knockdowns,” said Villamor.

“I think he will just take a rest and will be back. He still has good movements. We are proud of Manny and thank him for giving another honor for our country,” he added.

Canadian trainer-manager David John Treharne, who is based in Thailand, said “Pacquiao looked good.”

“(He still has) lots of feints and good head movement. Bradley was very quick! So Manny’s timing is still good,” Treharned said.

“(It was) hard to catch each other clean but Manny was very patient. His footwork in and out was a little bit slower but still good,” he added.

Pacquiao’s chief trainer Freddie Roach was quoted during a post-fight interview: “I know he’s in physical shape to keep fighting – his speed is good, his legs are good, his work ethic is great.”

“He (Pacquiao) could continue to fight on, but if he retires and spends more time with his family and he enjoys life, and has something to fall back on, then I’ll be 100 per cent behind him,” Roach said. (PNA) LAP/LCM/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP