WE WILL cross the second half of the year in just seven days on June 1 and while boxing in the US is taking baby steps for its return and some fighters are joining the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes, I don’t see the Pacman fighting again later this year.
We are not nearly there nor are we even close to flattening the curve, so I don’t see the fighting senator lacing his gloves this year.
Don’t take me wrong, I’d like to see the Pacman fight, if only for the distraction it serves for our Covid-weary country, but would it be the right thing?
And with boxing still not allowed under quarantine rules, it may not be good to see a senator boxing. On the flip side, some may say that as a senator, the rules may not apply to Manny Pacquiao and that he will be fighting in Las Vegas anyway. As a one-man charity bank, Pacquiao can spin his comeback fight as his way of helping the country and some will buy that and some won’t. And that itself, for me, might be a distraction we don’t need.
Anyway, I’m still hoping to see Manny fight one more time before he calls it quits, but I hope it won’t be against Connor McGregor.
Right Moves. Eumir Marcial is turning pro and the first concern he addressed is what happens to him if he retires. That for me shows the maturity Marcial has that most boxers don’t. Marcial got an adviser to teach him about tax and financial concerns, saying that most of the world champions retire penniless and end up just as broke when they started their careers.
There so many tales of former champions forced to sell their belts, or who have been reduced to living on charity after their career that it won’t surprise me if another of our current champion will suffer the same fate after retirement.
Marcial wants to avoid that and so far, he is doing the right thing.
Unlike most pros, Marcial already have millions before he makes debut, thanks to a stellar amateur career that has seen him win gold medals and that are worth millions as incentive.
He is also keeping his eye on the Tokyo Olympics and should he win the gold—our country’s first—I think he’d have enough money that would allow him to take control of his career.