Crossroads

The heart of Errol Spence Jr. is more torn apart than his retina that forced him to withdraw from his biggest career fight. He could have been Yordenis Ugas who joined the short list of boxing greats to defeat the legend that is Manny Pacquiao, owner of twelve major titles in eight different divisions. He did not wait for a worthy foe, he changed weight to meet whoever thought he can be beat. Exactly why he is called Pacman.

With eleven days of preparation for twelve brutal rounds, the lesser known Cuban rose to the occasion. His height compensated for such short notice. It factored, Pacquiao threw more punches but only 16% connected, broken down to jabs at 9% and power punches at 26%. Taller by at least three inches, Ugas must have been hard to reach, although now he is more rich.

Three inches? That’s a hairline for Manny at his peak. Height, and weight, did not matter. He dwarfed the bigger Antonio Margarito, 5 inches taller and 17 pounds heavier. He punished great champions to kneel on the canvas and pack to retirement. He beat the golden face of Oscar De La Hoya black and blue but still glittered more than his victorious glow. He lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. the overhyped fight of the century that ended up the flight of the century. Floyd withered the Filipino assault by running away. The bitter trilogy with Juan Manuel Marquez was way better, although the Filipino was knocked out in their final bout. Since then he seemed cowed.

Two years ago, the middle aged Pacman eked out a split decision over the unbeaten Keith Thurman, thanks to that opening round right hook, the principle of primacy imprinted on the jury’s short memory. A wake up call, where before Manny either knocked his opponents out early on like he did to Ricky Hatton, or win by unanimous decision, he had to earn it hard against the American.

Last Sunday the future arrived earlier than expected and brought the unexpected. Pacquiao lost by unanimous decision, even his own countrymen agree in unison. It was not the same Manny who dominated the sport for a quarter of a century. Although still faster at his age, he lost to a younger and hungrier fighter. Pacquiao is full, not of himself, but of how accomplished he is, from a starving baker to world champion and now richest lawmaker. He has nothing else to prove, except probably defying irreversible age.

Maybe he wants to fight one last time and win. He refuses to retire defeated. Let it go, your record is not unblemished. Unlike Floyd who called it a career unscathed, not because he was the greatest, but because he didn’t take risks. He was astute and calculated. Manny was fearless. As he contemplates on his future in boxing and elsewhere, he needs to listen to his body and not argue with destiny. Obey Father Time, although it is his mother who rings the bell several times. Listen in Emmanuel, despite her comic antics, your mother knows best, or when you’re no longer the best. As one of the greats leave the sport, before it leaves you down and out.