If you ask famed Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao, the megabuck Manny Pacquiao-Conor McGregor match should serve as swan song for the Filipino eight-division world boxing champion.
"Sa akin lang sana, dapat 'yun na 'yung last niya," Sangiao told Manila Bulletin in a recent interview. "Meron talaga ring hangganan 'pag atleta. Though fitness o pagiging fit, continuous 'yan."
But as far as boxing is concerned, the 41-year-old Sangiao is giving 100 percent support to Paccquiao against McGregor despite the age difference, citing Manny's advantage in terms of experience and speed.
"Iba pa rin si Manny pag naglalaro, humble pa rin yan. Kahit sinong mga nakakalaro niyan -- mga trashtalkers man -- maganda pa rin pinapakita niya. 'Yun ang tingin ko rin bakit maraming naniniwala pa rin at umiidolo sa kanya," added Sangiao, who rose to fame from his gold-medal performance in wushu in the 2001 Southeast Asian Games before making a name in mixed martial arts from 2003 to 2009.
Team Lakay's Edward Kelly, an avid fan of Pacquiao, also agreed that the 41-year-old boxing icon should throw in the towel, adding that the boxer-turned-senator "has nothing left to prove."
Who knows? Just like Sangiao, maybe Pacquiao finds his new calling as a coach to young Filipino boxers while juggling his duties in the Senate.