SCOOP Report from Philippine Entertainment Portal – No one is to blame if Manny Pacquiao, 32, takes the voices of the outsiders seriously. They may have better perspective than the diehard fans of boxing who delight to witness a spectacular event inside the ring of madness, if not gruesome prospect or eventual premature degeneration, or worse – a sudden halt of a human life in some way or another. And who could blame the color commentator Howard Cosell on ABC boxing broadcast? He went from being the “voice of boxing” in 1966 to becoming one of the biggest advocates of the boxing’s abolition. To date, it’s not for such grand scale but for Pacquiao’s sake. In fact, the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) releases Friday its pulse survey indicating that 73.36% of its readers and followers are one in saying that Pacquiao should now retire from boxing.
After winning 8 titles in 8 different weight divisions, they say Pacquiao, who started boxing at the age of 14, has had more than enough bouts and has done more than enough for the country. They say they are concerned about Pacquiao’s health. One participant is quoted saying, as translated, ” What would he do to his money if his health is imperiled” (Aanhin nya ang pera kung ikakasama naman sa kanyang kalusugan ito). Only 26.64% out of 214 voters clamor for Pacquiao to give one more fight before he retires.
If the voice of the same individuals from the entertainment circle who are deeply concerned about Pacquiao’s health were to be heard, then the demand of his cohorts and the boxing world should be treated as a hard sell. Pacquiao deserves a better, healthy living for the rest of his life, the pollsters say.
PEP, on the other hand, cites the British Medical Association through BBC Sports saying boxing as an “unacceptably dangerous sport”. It further states the US reports from Men’s Health magazine highlighting that the “American Association of Neurological Surgeons says that 90% of boxers sustain a brain injury.”
“It is estimated that when a boxer gets a direct blow to the head, it is like being hit by a 12lb padded, wooden mallet travelling at 20mph! Being hit on the head can cause fractures to the bone of the head and face and tissue damage in the brain. A blow can damage the surface of the brain, tear nerve networks, cause lesions, bleeding and sometimes produce large clots within the brain.” The magazine states.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao has indicated his excitement to set his 58th fight. He, in fact, intends to continue his boxing journey for another good two to three years.
SOURCE: Philippine Entertainment Portal
Note: Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) is a Philippine-based joint venture of GMA News Media, Inc. (NMI) and Summit Media which offers entertainment news from local and International film and television Industry.
