When Bob Arum declared months back that Manny Pacquiao would fight his last bout on April 9, the statement carried a final impact.
Pacquiao did not whimper, or manifest any hint of disagreement.
But something funny happened on the way to the scheduled final battle. Arum had himself started wondering if the April 9 assignment would indeed be Pacquiao’s last.
* * *
The usually cocksure veteran promoter had started doubting his own statement.
Arum flip-flopped and said Pacquiao could just decide to go on fighting past April 9.
And could he do anything if Pacquiao, indeed, decided to go on fighting while already a member of the Philippine Senate?
* * *
For the record, Arum, in declaring the April 9 final bout for Pacquiao, stated that, above all, the celebrated eight-division world title winner cannot function as a bonafide senator and a full-time prizefighter at the same time.
Arum did not bother to clarify where he drew that ruling.
No such thing has been heard of or declared hereabouts, but Pacquiao obviously decided to follow Arum’s whim.
* * *
However, the course to the scheduled farewell bout started to veer after Pacquiao decided to face Tim Bradley for the third time on April 9.
There rose the overriding view that Pacquiao-Bradley Part 3 cannot pack sufficient significance to put the curtains down on the glorious career of the treasured Filipino boxing superhero.
Pacquiao may indeed call it quits after his third encounter with Bradley. But what can stop Pacquiao from unretiring if the moment (and the price) would call for it.
* * *
Pacquiao is bound by official contract to fight under Arum’s Top Rank Promotions through the rest of 2016.
But contrary to what Arum had declared, Pacquiao as senator can still function as a full-time prizefighter after his contract with Arum expires at the end of the year.
There’s enough zest and greatness left in Pacquiao to merit concluding his career in a blaze of glory.
Only Manny Pacquiao can effectively retire Manny Pacquiao.