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Manny Pacquiao: The Final Farewell?

Manny Pacquiao

When Top Rank Boxing dug up and spit-shined a dreadful third fight with Timothy Bradley Jr., it was believed to be Manny Pacquiao’s last fight in many circles. Top Rank boss Bob Arum said not so fast. Since then, it has been announced that Manny will square off against WBO 147-pound Champion, Jessie Vargas. Bob Arum said, wait a minute now… While all signs point to a Pacquiao vs. Vargas showdown, this does not seem to be the wishes of Mr Arum. He and HBO have been pursuing a Terrence Crawford fight for Pac-Man for some time now. This is despite the fact that Team Crawford more of less told Pacquaio to f*** off. They are no longer interested in a Mega Fight with Manny. I wonder if this sentiment still holds true for Team Crawford after the dreadful returns from Bud’s first PPV fight against Viktor Postol. A magnificent performance against a top fighter, the fight should have generated better than it did. But in boxing cha-ching means as much as fistic brilliance. The Cha-Ching was brutal for Crawford’s first crack at PPV.

Arum & the HBO brass recognise a fight between Pacquaio and Crawford should deliver both in the box office and in the ring. Mostly on the side of Team Crawford for the latter. I believe, as do many others, that at this stage in Manny’s career, while it might do great numbers, facing Crawford would be detrimental to Manny Pacquaio’s health. Freddie Roach hinted at the same sentiments when questioned about a Crawford fight. Hence, the tentative announcement between Pacquiao and Vargas.

While I am not so sure how much it would sell, Manny Pacquiao vs. Jessie Vargas is a nice fight. If not for anything else, it would be good to see Vargas, as hard-working and nice of a guy I ever spoke with in boxing, get a big payday. It is also the most competitive and interesting fight Manny has had in a long time; save the Fight of the Century, against Floyd Mayweather Jr. While he is not on the level of Crawford, Vargas is very underrated and will come to fight. Based on Manny’s last fight against Bradley, there is still enough in the tank to keep going. I would say this is a pretty even fight, with a slight edge to Vargas. Just my opinion. The question is will this be Manny Pacquiao’s farewell fight?

The late Bill Gallo once scribed Pacquiao was the third best boxer he ever saw, behind Sugar Ray Robinson & Willie Pep. His legacy is pretty secure, and his reservation in the International Boxing Hall of Fame is baked in the cake. So why does Manny Pacquiao still have to fight? Cha-Ching. Like many fighters, it has been reported that Pacquiao is in need of scharole, despite being one of the best-paid fighters in history. If this is true, it is indeed a shame, and there is no telling how much longer Pacquaio keeps going. The big question is, does Manny still have the PPV appeal? His last fight with Bradley did not do well (there is hope for boxing fans), and as good a fight Pac vs. Vargas is, it is hard to fathom that fight besting Bradley 3 at the box office. Unless it is packaged and promoted as his farewell fight. Even then, it is iffy. As with many things in boxing, we will all have to wait and see. There are still people who believe there is a Fight of the Century rematch brewing. Ask Chuck Berry once said, “you never can tell.”

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