Fans torn on Pacquiao retirement

Manny Pacquiao, right, of the Philippines, throws a right at Timothy Bradley during their WBO welterweight title boxing bout Saturday, April 9, 2016, in Las Vegas. AP

Will Manny Pacquiao stay true to his word and retire for good?

For some, Pacquiao’s retirement is a mere press release as they see the Filipino ring icon fighting again.

Jeremaiah Opiniano, an avid boxing fan and professor at University of Santo Tomas, feels Pacquiao is just doing the same thing his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. did.

Mayweather called it a career last September though, the rest of the boxing world are not totally buying his stand with another big payday could lure the former pound-for-pound king back into the game.

“Pacquiao will do a Mayweather that he will not definitely say that this is his last,” Opiniano said. “If he’s saying that, he’s trying to bait an opponent either somebody else who is rising in the division, or it might be Floyd.”

“I think the outcome of the fight will be the gauge for his decision.”

Kungfu Reyes, head coach of UST’s women’s volleyball team, feels Pacquiao’s decision to step away will only be temporary.

READ: Pacquiao sticks to retirement plan: ‘I made the decision’

“After ng laban kay Bradley, pwede na siya mag-retire or balik siya pag nagkaayaan sila ni Mayweather (After his fight with Bradley, he can retire or return if he and Mayweather agree to fight again).”

“Kung babawiin niya na last fight na nga niya ito, panindigan niya muna, then balik na siya pag naghamunan sila ni Mayweather (If he’ll take back what he said that this will be his last fight, he should stand by his decision to retire first, then return if he and Mayweather challenge each other).”

READ: Pacquiao beats Bradley in ‘last fight’

Students also weighed in on the fight saying it could be Pacquiao’s ride into the sunset.

Journalism student Elizabeth Anthony said Pacquiao’s bid for a Senate seat will prevent him from fighting.

“Ito na ang huling laban ni Pacquiao kasi kung makikita niyo nag-file na siya for Senate (This will be Pacquiao’s last fight because he’s running for Senator) and if ever he wins, I think his focus would be on politics rather than on boxing.

Isabella Ragaza thinks it’s time for Pacquiao to hang up his gloves because after all, he’s not getting any younger.

“Masyado na siyang old para lumaban pa, may bago nang boxers na mas malakas sa kanya (He’s too old to continue fighting. There are also other boxers who are stronger than him).”

Pacquiao beat Bradley via unanimous decision in their third meeting Sunday at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, knocking the Palm Springs native down twice.

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