Quit While You’re Ahead

March 15, 2010

Yesterday was a hot, heatstroke-inducing Sunday morning. My parents and I gathered around the TV to watch one of the biggest events so far this year – Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey. I’m imagining all the rest of the Filipino people are also anticipating and expecting an exciting fight, whether they were in a posh sports bar in the city or in the comfort of their own homes or cramped with fellow sweaty spectators inside a non-airconditioned and poorly ventilated gymnasium. Probably middle-aged men were already preparing their booze, knowing for sure that the Pacman will kick Clottey’s ass. Watching a Pacquiao fight was like having a national holiday here in the country. The streets are clean. No traffic jams. Few people on the streets. Even the crime rate is said to drop every time Manny has a fight.

I’m not a hardcore boxing fan, and I admit I didn’t get what all the frenzy was about with Manny Pacquiao. I was irritated by him even, with all his mediocre singing, political ambitions and imperfect English. But after he won fight after fight, I developed a liking for this man, for all the greatness he brings to the ring, for putting back the Philippines on the world map, at least in the sports arena. I’m proud of him for being such a great boxer, but only that. I still don’t get the singing and political ambitions. I personally think he should just stick to boxing because that is what he does best. And for the love of a national ‘hero,’ I think he should retire soon – a sentiment I strongly share with his trainer Freddie Roach.

Roach is right – there is no one else to fight out there, and continuing to do boxing after Clottey or hopefully Mayweather in the future would only be anticlimactic for his career. And the more pressing issue is his health. Sure, he may be at the peak of his physical health, but once you reach 30, it’s downhill from there. You can’t do anything about it. That’s how the human body is. The more he postpones his retirement, the higher the risk of Parkinson’s becomes. I hope Manny would be wise enough to heed Roach’s and his mother’s advice to retire sooner rather than later. I think the quit-while-you’re-ahead is a wise concept in this case.

No doubt, Manny has brought honor to this country through his awesome talent. If he wants to be remembered as the great boxer that he is, he should retire as soon as possible. He has already proven himself, more than enough even. Seven world titles in seven different weight divisions is beyond me. Yes, there is no other like this man, and there may never be. That’s why it is imperative that he walk away from boxing while he is still the best, while no one hasn’t stripped him of his titles yet.

(Photos from PhilStar.com and GQ.com)