Chorus grows for Pacquiao to reconsider retirement

Manny Pacquiao raises his arms as he faces the crowd following his unanimous decision victory over Timothy Bradley. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA

LAS VEGAS — It would be a shame if Manny Pacquiao hung up his gloves after his most creditable performance in years.

Even Timothy Bradley, the guy who he pummelled to two knockdowns en route to a unanimous decision Saturday (Sunday Manila time) at MGM Grand Garden Arena here, thinks so.

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

“No, Manny Pacquiao shouldn’t retire,” Bradley told journalists at the post-fight press conference Saturday at MGM Grand.

Add that to the chorus of voices who think Pacquiao still has enough in him.

READ: Pacquiao good for 2 more fights

Fierce rival Juan Manuel Marquez says he respects Pacquiao’s decision to retire, “if that is what he feels he wants.” But when told that Adrien Broner was eyeing a showdown with undefeated and retired Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marquez changed his tune.

“I wouldn’t watch that fight. Broner doesn’t want to fight. Mayweather doesn’t want to fight. If they fight in the ring, what’s the result? Boring,” Marquez said.

Asked what fight he’d rather watch, Marquez replied: “Pacquiao-Canelo [Alvarez]. That’s a good fight.”

READ: Canelo camp receptive to fight against Pacquiao

It was cunning and calculated Pacquiao Bradley faced for the third time, not letting the American boxer execute his game plan which he had meticulously tweaked under new trainer Teddy Atlas.

“I did everything I can to get him to come to me. Jab, get out, jab, get out but he was just smart tonight. He was just super smart. He knew where I was going to be at.”

Bradley managed to trap Pacquiao against ropes with fiery combinations that seemingly put the Filipino champion in peril, but Pacquiao still waltzed out of the trap to continue action.

“Manny was luring me in. He was waiting for me to commit to lunging so he could counter me. He was picking his spots. He was waiting on me,” Bradley said.

Roach was so impressed with Pacquiao’s performance that he also expressed hope that his most famous ward would change his mind.

“It wasn’t a complete comeback for Manny Pacquiao but it was a good first step,” Roach said. “But I liked what he did. He was aggressive, he went after his opponent and he did what he was supposed to do.”

“It’s a difficult sport to quit. It’s not easy to retire. He hasn’t realized it yet but he’s going to find out.”

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