Manny Pacquiao's best days are long gone, one commentator says. Many fans will certainly argue against this, but the commentator certainly raised some important points, especially why his team's pursuit of Spence should not progress into an actual match anymore.
According to Lyle Fitzsimmons of Boxing Scene, the Filipino boxer is truly deserving of all the good things that happened to him ever since reaching the championship level over two decades ago. He had worked twice as hard and achieved so much compared to anyone over the same time frame. This is why he is truly viable to be inducted at the International Boxing Hall of Fame when the time comes, or when he becomes eligible.
However, Fitzsimmons also has the opinion that the boxer should stop now. Even though there is still some hype over his win against title-holder Keith Thurman two months ago in Las Vegas, his best days are true "long, long gone." She wrote that Pacquiao might have been winning some matches, but none of these were against "anyone capable of truly elite-level resistance." She added that Pacquiao was merely banking on his reputation alone for over two years now.
This is why she thinks talks of a match with Errol Spence should not even push through anymore or at least go beyond "talks." It can be remembered that veteran trainer Freddie Roach asserted that they want Pacquiao to fight someone worthy, so there won't be an easy fight.
"If (Manny is) gonna continue in boxing, I want him to fight the best guys he can," veteran trainer Freddie Roach said. "We're not looking for any stiffs or any easy fights or anything like that. We will fight anybody out there. If Floyd doesn't come, Errol Spence, all of them. Line them up."
Fitzsimmons thinks a fight with the three-defense champion is no longer a good idea though because Pacquiao is simply no match. Spence is perceived as one of the very best fighters today in the world. He's so good that veteran promoter Richard Schaefer even said that the "Mayweather era has stopped," and an "Errol Spence era" has already started.
A fight with Spencer is certainly worth watching, but for Pacquiao, it will be a big risk of almost inevitable failure.
Spence himself knows he is destined for greatness. "I always want to outperform my foes," he said. "There's a lot of people salivating for me to be No. 1, and I should be by next year. Hopefully, I'll be mentioned as an all-time great like Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather, and Tommy Hearns and Oscar De La Hoya," he once said.
With Bob Arum saying Pacquiao is risking brain damage if he fights more in his 40s, Fitzimmons might have a point.
