Manny Pacquiao might be growing weary of chasing the elusive and reluctant Floyd Mayweather. After compromising on numerous Mayweather demands and conditions over the last 28 months, and having still failed to get the elusive and reluctant American into the ring, Pacquiao says he may retire from the ring after his June 9 fight with Tim Bradley.
Pacquiao, age 33, has been a professional boxer since his teenage years and seems to be losing the ferocious killer instinct which was a part of his spectacular performances against Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. Since those scintillating triumphs, Pacquiao has appeared less vicious and more merciful against Joshua Clottey, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Massive wealth, maturity and a shortage of inspiring opposition, can alter even the most violent killing machines over time ? consider the furies of Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran and Ricardo Mayorga, who eventually became mere shells of their former selfs.
Manny Pacquiao has done everything he can to force Mayweather to box him but that fight seems now to be an impossibility. It has to be a disappointment for Pacquiao to fail to capture the number one target he wants most of all, and it has been showing in his most recent performances.
The result is, Pacquiao?s inner fire is now simmering, it?s not blazing like it was just a few years ago. With Mayweather running and making his excuses, and people like George Peterson (an associate of Floyd advisor Al Haymon) saying ?the fight will never happen, some fights aren?t meant to be made,? Pacquiao is changing and losing his lust for prizefighting. There is nothing left to prove now that Mayweather wants to only box Golden Boy controlled fighters. In essence, Pacquiao is just going through the motions now with meaningless exhibitions to make money and entertain his huge fan base. The big Super Bowl event which should have come two years ago, is being blocked by Mayweather and his team or protectors.
More evidence of Pacquiao?s changing person is that he said last month he is now a Bible ambassador for a church in the Philippines, and that he has ?renewed his faith? and will turn his back on vices like ?womanizing, gambling, and drinking.?
Of course, you have to consider that it?s also possible that Pacquiao could be strategically playing the ?retirement? card to apply pressure on Mayweather and Haymon to stop ducking and dodging and come to the table and make the darn 50-50 deal for November.
How Mayweather responds to Pacquiao?s threat of retirement will be interesting. If Mayweather truly wants to fight Manny this year, like he claims with words but not actions, he will be upset to learn Pacquiao may quit boxing. If Mayweather is relieved and happy to hear Pacquiao will retire, it will prove what many of us have been saying for two years ? Floyd never wanted the Pacquiao fight, he only faked and pretended it for image reasons.
Now is the time to shut up and put up. With Manny contemplating quitting boxing this year, Mayweather and Haymon need to respond to Pacquiao and make a deal for November. Haymon needs to contact Bob Arum ? for once in his life ? right about now. Floyd needs to say, Okay if we both win our next fights vs. Cotto and Bradley, let?s do it in November for 50-50.
