It was a running argument for nearly two years. I battled regularly with fans and fellow members of the media about whether or not Manny Pacquiao was “done” as a main stage fighter.
The cynics—and there were many—pointed to the multi-division world champ and Filipino icon’s high-profile loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2015, to his unanimous decision loss to Jeff Horn in 2017, to his 13-fight run without a KO or TKO. They also pointed to his age as a two-decade pro in his late 30’s. All of these were valid points, but not necessarily proof that he desperately needed to hang up the gloves.
I countered with the fact that Manny managed to beat Timothy Bradley and Jessie Vargas—two legitimate top 10 welterweights—pretty decisively after the Mayweather fight and that he, really and honestly, should’ve gotten the decision over the rough, but sloppy Horn.
It’s funny how things had turned in my career. Once voted no. 1 Pacquiao Hater by the old Pacland forum, I was now spending a great deal of time defending the guy’s career choices against weepy media members who were begging for him to retire. Meanwhile, I insisted that he was, at the very least, still a legitimate top 5 welterweight.
