By Hannah Torregoza
Even though Senator Emmanuel (Manny) Pacquiao seemed to regain his confidence after winning his latest fight against Argentine Lucas Matthysse, his colleagues prefer that he retires soon.
MB FILE- Senator JV Ejercito (Tony Pionilla / MANILA BULLETIN)
This was after President Rodrigo Duterte, who himself watched Pacquiao’s bout in Kuala Lumpur, expressed his preference for the Philippine boxing icon to retire from boxing.
Sen. Joseph Victor (JV) Ejercito said Pacquiao is already “a legend” in the boxing arena and has nothing more to prove.
“As a friend, I share the same sentiments.
Manny Pacquiao is already a legend, no doubt one of the best boxers in the world ever. Nothing more to prove,” Ejercito said.
“No other Filipino in the recent decades has given so much glory and honor to our country than Manny Pacquiao,” Ejercito stressed.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson echoed Ejercito’s appeal: “It is not about having enough money already. I'd say, my advice to my colleague, seat mate and friend is that it is best to leave the stage while the audience is applauding; not when they have left because nothing is worth watching. That would be both sad and tragic.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto also agreed with the President: “Yes, I do. Better for him to retire (while) on top.”
“I am sure his wife and family would want him to retire to preserve his health. He has proven time and again that he is a great Filipino champion,” Recto stressed.
Sen. Juan Edgardo (Sonny) Angara, however, said he still believes it is up to Pacquiao whether he should retire from boxing, or not.
“Only he, Manny, can answer that. Though I believe the President doesn't want to see Manny fall prey to what many great fighters do- which (is)fighting one time too many,” Angara said.
Citing the case of Muhammad Ali, Angara said the American professional boxer and philanthropist should no longer have fought Trevor Berbick, to whom Ali lost in 1983.
“But different fighters have different careers, so it is something Manny will have to consider sooner or later,” he said.
A matter which Sen. Nancy Binay also agrees with: “Kung saan magiging maligaya si Senator Manny. Kung happiness niya ang pag bo-boxing tuloy pa niya. But if it does not give him happiness or satisfaction anymore, maybe it’s time to retire.”
Last Sunday, Pacquiao won against Matthysse and sealed his victory in the seventh round by technical knockout.