Manny Pacquiao has not even slept on his bed back home and yet people are already debating who he should fight next.
The more appropriate question could have been will he still fight after demolishing Antonio Margarito?
But since Pacquiao himself said he is not ready to retire, we might as well offer our unsolicited advice or create our own scenarios for him. Never mind if at the end of the day, it is Top Rank?s Bob Arum and his plethora of financial packages that spell the difference over who Manny is fighting next.
Everybody believes Floyd Mayweather Jr is the best fight left for Manny, both for US$50 million reasons and a shot at boxing immortality.
But after a grueling one-sided beating of Margarito, I believe Manny now deserves a long break.
Manny being helped stand up by wife Jinky was not a pretty sight to see.
Other than the bruises and the cuts he suffered when he lost to Erik Morales, I have never seen Manny so beat up, a testament to Margarito as a heavy puncher.
Beyond what people see in the ring whenever Manny fights, they should realize that Manny also traded punches with sparring partners during training. Even if the gloves are heavily padded, these sparring sessions are not exactly a jog around the oval.
As sports writer and boxing judge Salven Lagumaby said, it is these demanding sparring sessions that have longer lasting effects on fighters as they ascend the ladder of boxing stardom.
So what is the point?
Manny should now slow down in choosing his opponent, one that is entertaining and competitive yet not physically threatening until Mayweather shows up in the ring with him.
If the likes of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and all the boxing greats once in a while chose an easy opponent, why not Manny?
Forget about Paul Williams or Sergio Martinez. After seeing how Manny felt the body punches of Margarito hours after the fight, only sadists and masochists would want him fight another big man.
Manny has reached the weight plateau where he is most comfortable. The welterweight division. He should not fight again below the 140-lb limit or over 147 pounds, unless that guy is Mayweather.
Manny can easily pick up a US$10-15 million pay day against lesser opponents and it won?t diminish his legacy.
Shane Mosley is fine. So is Juan Manuel Marquez. But if Manny chooses to fight three or four more times, these two boxers should be the last of his priorities.
Andre Berto and Timothy Bradley are excellent opponents for him especially if the fight is held in the Philippines.
Both are unbeaten and in their prime but still not in the class of Manny. They may not be bankable opponents but there is not a fight Bob Arum could not sell if Manny is the main guy.
Time for Manny to cash in before he finally calls it quits.
