The writing is on the wall

LAS VEGAS – Freddie Roach sounded during the post-fight press conference at the T-Mobile Arena like he’s ready to pull the plug.

“This could be it,” he said.

It’s inevitable, of course, that one of the greatest stories in boxing will have to end. Saturday evening here may have provided some important clues.

Manny Pacquiao battled Cuban Yordenis Ugas for 12 rounds, and left the ring unlike the Pacquiao we always knew.

Well, he tried to keep a smile on his face after the fight – a brave smile.

But he was beaten soundly by the 35-year-old WBA champion, whose left jabs and looping rights were enough to impress the judges.

Ugas was a last-minute replacement for Errol Spence Jr., the WBC and IBF welterweight king, who found out he had a torn retina in his left eye just 11 days before the fight.

Who knows what might have been if it were Spence instead of Ugas inside that ring against the Filipino icon or WBO champion Terence Crawford.

Two judges had it 116-112 for the Cuban and the third one 115-113. The STAR had it 116-112 also for Ugas.

Roach had said many times before that the legs are the first to go in a boxer’s arsenal.

He also had said many times that once he sees that in Pacquiao, he’ll be the first to tell his favorite boxer that it’s time to quit.

“He has boxed for a long time. The best boxer I ever had,” said Roach, who fought hard as a boxer as well.

But what he saw on this hot and humid night in Vegas may be enough for him to drop those four words with Pacquiao a few feet away.

“This could be it.”