Rematch? Presidency? What will Manny Pacquiao chase next?
LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao left Las Vegas around $100 million richer but with his boxing future very much up in the air.
Pacquiao’s defeat to Floyd Mayweather on Saturday night could be the last that is seen of the Filipino welterweight for quite some time, with a combination of injury and a lack of obvious fights casting doubt on when, or if, he will return to the ring.
“We would like to do it again,” said his trainer Freddie Roach, alluding to a possible rematch following Mayweather’s unanimous points decision.
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But that outcome is almost certain not to happen, with the one-sided nature of the contest, the lack of action and the acrimonious relationship between rival promoters putting up a series of huge obstacles.
Then there is the factor of the shoulder injury Pacquiao claimed had hindered him in the build-up to the contest, and for which he was denied the use of an anti-inflammatory injection.
Given the noises coming out of his camp over the latter part of the weekend it seems as though the issue will require surgery, with an indefinite healing period that is likely to rule him out until possibly the end of the year.
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Furthermore, the power struggle that splits boxing has left the 36-year-old with a severe dearth of legitimately viable opponents once he is back to full health. The lingering issues between his promoter, Bob Arum’s Top Rank, and managerial rival, Al Haymon, limits the pool significantly.
Pacquiao has already fought Top Rank fighter Timothy Bradley twice and there would be no mileage in a third contest. Juan Manuel Marquez, whom Pacquiao has already battled four times, is in no mood to accept a fifth meeting. Jessie Vargas is a rising contender at 147 pounds but first needs to get past Bradley in June, while options such as Amir Khan and Keith Thurman are likely closed off due to their Haymon allegiance.
“We will see,” Pacquiao said, giving nothing away about his plans looking forward.
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One significant factor that cannot be ignored is Pacquiao’s future dedication to his political career in the Philippines. It is widely expected that he will run for the country’s presidency in the future and has been in political office for six years, currently serving as congressman for Sarangani Province.
However, despite his huge popularity as an athlete, Pacquiao’s political rivals have questioned his dedication, after figures revealed an attendance record of only four congressional session days last year.
Pacquiao’s close friend and key political advisor Chavit Singson told USA TODAY Sports last week that he believed the amount of money Pacquiao would make for fighting Mayweather would spell the end of his career.
“He will have so much money, he wont need any more,” Singson said. However, Singson believes Pacquiao would be well advised not to chase the Filipino presidency once his career ends.
“Better to be a kingmaker than a king,” he said.
Either way, in his mid-30s, with some physical ails, and other matters at hand, Pacquiao’s time as one of boxing’s kings may be running short.
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Source: USA Today Sports
