The devastating defeat suffered by Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao at the hands of bitter Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez generated heated debates among fight fans here and abroad.
But more than the technical issues that came about inside the ring, the issue whether Pacquiao should retire or continue to fight was the one that created meaningful arguments the last couple of days.
In these discussions, Pacquiao?s mother Dionisia seems to be getting lesser support when it comes to her plea that his son should finally hang up his gloves.
?Sabihin ko kay Bob Arum, ?stop na.? Hindi hayop ang anak ko, tao siya. Ang trabaho niya focus na lang sa pulitika. Iwanan na lang niya ang boxing,? was what Dionisa blurted out in a interview with TV station GMA.
Filipino fight fans, meanwhile, believe it is imperative for Pacquiao to fight at least one more time, noting that they do not want the Filipino idol to be remembered as the fighter whom Marquez knocked out cold in their title fight.
But longtime boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino sees no need for Pacquiao to return to the ring as the Filipino boxer?s legacy is already cemented despite the humiliating loss to Marquez.
?The loss is still fresh in the minds of people. But eventually history will be kinder to Manny. What people will be talking about is how he won eight division titles. That loss to Marquez will just be a footnote,? said Tolentino.
LONG BREAK. Famed trainer Freddie Roach wants prized pupil Manny Pacquiao to take at a break for at least six months and undergo stringent tests along the way.
Roach said he wants to make sure Pacquiao did not suffer even the slightest injury in the Filipino?s head, a recipient of a punishing blow from Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez.
Roach is no stranger to the lasting effects of head injury in boxing as he himself continues to suffer from Parkinson?s disease after an extended ring career.
The multi-awarded trainer is also not keen on seeing Pacquiao battle Marquez in a fifth encounter as he prefers to see his ward take a tune-up match middle or late next year.
The once-mighty Pacquiao arrived in Manila Wednesday morning and immediately performed in a concert held at the Mall of Asia.
JUAN MORE TIME. Now considered as Mexico?s newest hero, Juan Manuel Marquez is still expected to continue his ring career next year.
That is according to his trainer Ignacio ?Nacho? Beristain, he expects Marquez to take just a short break and will most likely return to the gym soon.
?I told him to take a month off. But I know him. He will return soon. Although it would be best to a month off to rest,? Beristain told Boxingscene.com.
But Marquez told the same website that he made a promise to his family that he would retire after the Pacquiao fight regardless of the outcome.
?I do not want to end up like the other fighters. I would retire as I am right now, physically and mentally well,? said Marquez. ?It?s the hardest decision of my life. I want to be calm, enjoy my family and make the best decision.?
BEST-OF-FIVE. The battle on which country between Mexico and Philippines has the best boxing champions will be determined in the next two weeks.
The ?series? started middle of November, when Hawaiian fighter Brian Viloria defeated Mexican champion Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez via 10th round knockout.
Viloria, who traces his roots in Ilocos Sur, kept his World Boxing Organization flyweight belt and added Marquez?s World Boxing Association strap.
San Diego, California-based Mercito Gesta suffered a 12-round decision loss to International Boxing Federation lightweight ruler Miguel Vazquez beneath the Pacquiao-Marquez IV card.
Mexico currently holds a 2-1 lead with the Philippines hoping to equalize when Nonito Donaire, Jr. stakes his WBO superbantamweight belt opposite Mexican four-division world champion Jorge Arce this Sunday at the Toyota Center in Houston.
The following week, former World Boxing Council world flyweight champion Malcolm Tunacao gets his chance to regain lost luster when he battles Mexican Cristian Esquivel in a WBC world bantamweight title eliminator in Kobe, Japan.
