Pacquiao told to take 6-month rest

MANILA, Philippines - Two close friends advised Manny Pacquiao to take a rest of at least six months before returning to the gym so his body and brain can fully recover from the jarring he absorbed in losing to Juan Manuel Marquez by knockout in Las Vegas last weekend.

Boxing promoters Rex (Wakee) Salud and Aljoe Jaro were on the same Philippine Airlines flight that arrived in Manila from Las Vegas via Vancouver yesterday morning. They’ve been closely associated with Pacquiao for years, following his career from when he became a “Blow By Blow” TV sensation as a rookie in 1995. They’re concerned that rushing back from the devastating loss too soon may be detrimental if Pacquiao intends to pursue Marquez for a fifth encounter.

“It was a shocking loss,” said Salud, a long-time Pacquiao confidante who has access to accompany the fighter inside the ring whenever he fights before the first bell and after the last. “I don’t think it’s advisable for Manny to fight on April 20 as scheduled by (Bob) Arum. He should take a long rest, at least six months, and stay away from boxing. A lucky punch did it so it’s not like Manny was badly battered. Manny was going for a knockout when Marquez landed. Retirement is far from his mind, he’ll continue to fight, but he needs time to recover.”

Salud suggested a tune-up fight in Manila before going after Marquez for revenge. “Manny should get his confidence back,” he said. “(Timothy) Bradley would be a good opponent. Nobody was convinced that Bradley beat Manny so a rematch makes sense. Besides, it will give Manny a chance to regain his WBO welterweight championship. After beating Bradley, then Manny can fight Marquez if he’s still available.”

Salud said the loss to Marquez will affect Pacquiao’s marketability. He may not be able to command $20 Million purses anymore. “Will Manny agree to fight for less money?” wondered Salud. “I really don’t know. He has to make that decision. Maybe, (Floyd) Mayweather Jr. will finally agree to fight him. With Manny losing to Marquez, Mayweather will now think he’s beatable. He won’t be scared anymore to fight Manny.”

Salud said Pacquiao didn’t sleep until 7 a.m. the morning after the fight and stayed in his Mandalay Bay Hotel suite for a Bible study then a chess game with fiscal Dick Jamora. Right after the fight, he was whisked to the UMC (University Medical Center) Trauma Center in an ambulance for a CT-Scan – a standard procedure required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission of knockout victims. Brain tests showed negative results.

Salud said if Pacquiao plans to continue fighting, he must rededicate himself to the sport and do away with the distractions of a huge entourage. “There are so many new faces around Manny now,” said Salud. “I think many of them are pastors.”

Jaro, who manages former WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro and WBC No. 1 mininumweight contender Denver Cuello, echoed Salud’s advice for Pacquiao to take a six-month rest. 

“That was a damaging knockout,” said Jaro. “You can’t go back to the gym right away. You must stay away from boxing for about six months, just to strengthen your mind and body. For sure, this knockout will have a psychological effect on Manny. But Manny can come back. When I was a fighter, I was knocked out cold by Pirus Boy in Indonesia. When I woke up, I was in the hospital and I thought it went the distance until someone told me I was knocked out. That was in 1992. I rested for almost a year then fought until I retired in 1995. I think Manny must decide if he still wants to continue fighting, if there is still something that he wants to prove.”

Cebu boxing promoter Tony Aldeguer said it will be difficult for Pacquiao to recover from the loss but it’s not impossible to regain his stature. “If Manny wants to fight Marquez again, I suggest two or three tune-ups first,” said Aldeguer. “Manny got careless against Marquez. I thought in one or two more rounds, Marquez would be stopped. It was an alarming defeat especially since it looked like Manny was on the way to knocking Marquez out. I’ve seen boxers knocked out cold and they were never the same again.”

A fighter who was brutally knocked out in 1936 was Joe Louis who fell to Max Schmeling in the 12th round. But he came back two months later then strung up 34 straight wins, including a first round disposal of Schmeling in a rematch in 1938. The difference was Louis was only 22 when he lost to Schmeling and Pacquiao is now 33.

Flash Elorde lost his senses when he was knocked out by Carlos Ortiz at 31 in New York City in 1966 but returned to the ring five months later to outpoint Fujio Mikami and logged 13 more bouts before retiring. Tommy Hearns was knocked out cold by Marvin Hagler at 27 in 1985 but came back after 11 months to stop James Shuler and went on to log over 20 more bouts until 2006. Fernando Montiel was 32 when he was nearly decapitated by Nonito Donaire last year but has since won five of six outings. Vic Darchinyan was also knocked out cold by Donaire at 31 in 2007 but returned to win the IBF/WBA/WBC superflyweight and IBO bantamweight titles.