It has to be a Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown number two and no less, or it's best for the Filipino boxing legend to call it quits. That's the unsolicited advice given by Bob Arum to his former prizefighter. The Top Rank chief believes now is the right time for Pacman to walk away.
The boxing ring no longer agrees with Pacquiao, who will turn 41 soon, according to Arum. Arum and Pacquiao worked in tandem during the latter's glorious years, in which scores of boxing icons - like Oscar De La Hoya and Erik Morales - fell victims to the Filipino champ's power and speed.
But those days of seeming invincibility by the Filipino senator are long gone, Arum told the World Boxing News in an interview. The long-time promoter suggested Pacquiao still fighting at 40 is a dangerous thing to do.
"He's (almost) 41-years-old. And if you're 41 you can't take punishment. You can't take blows like he did in the Thurman fight," Arum explained.
Earlier this year, Pacquiao fought against a younger Keith Thurman and he prevailed after 12 rounds of an epic slugfest. Thurman even suffered a knockdown early in the bout but proved his stamina by going through the length of the fight and engaging his more popular foe in fierce exchanges.
In the end, Thurman remained standing when the final bell was sounded. The judges handed down a split decision that favored Pacquiao. And the latter earned praises for displaying what his former self used to do. Boxing experts were quick to declare that the old Pacquiao is back.
It might be the case but Arum is not buying. He feared that age is catching up on the welterweight titlist. He noted that during the ring tussle with Thurman, Pacquiao received too many blows that his aging body can't afford to absorb.
"Sure, he won that fight - but he took a lot of punishment. That punishment is going to have a serious effect on how he lives the rest of his life," Arum said.
In Arum's mind, Pacquiao needs to think hard on the likelihood and benefits of exiting the sport, if not immediately then anytime soon. If the boxing ring remains tempting, then Team Pacquiao must work on putting together a fight that will serve as his last hurrah.
It has to be a rematch headlining Pacquiao in a face-off with Floyd Mayweather. There should be no one else.
"If he gets Mayweather, do that fight and retire. If he doesn't get Mayweather he should retire. It's not worth it for him to continue boxing," the boxing promoter advised.
For his part, the Money seems equally interested in meeting Pacquiao again on the ring. If the latter would agree, Mayweather said he can duke it out with the Filipino fighter in an exhibition match, to be staged in Tokyo, Japan, The Mirror reported.
Pacquiao, however, only wants the real thing. Sure, he will face Mayweather anytime and anywhere but it has to be a genuine showdown, where pride and title are at stake, the report added.
