Retirement call for Manny many

By LITO DELOS REYES

DAVAO CITY – Many are calling for the retirement of Sen. Manny Pacquiao from boxing after he lost to Yordenis Ugas of Cuba during the WBA Welterweight Championship boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada last Aug. 21.

“I called for his retirement even before he was knocked out by Manuel Marques,” said Davao City veteran journalist Romeo Sabaldan.

“It was entirely his prerogative as a boxer. But today’s stunning defeat seen worldwide was also a defeat of glorious Philippine boxing” added Sabaldan.

Veteran sports editor Jun Migallen of SunStar Daily of Cebu City, on the other, said: “His Father time has finally come”.

Sports editor Lynde Salgados of SunStar Cagayan de Oro
“Peldi gyod. Still lot of punches, but no more sting and his mobility is lahi na gyod..h (sent with love effect) He looked haggard, maybe that’s the effect of a battle-scarred 42yr old..”..

Mindanao Times sports editor Jon Develos of Davao City
”Talo talaga”

Promoter Reynaldo Rodis of Manila
“Lack of focus. Too many things on his mind. Can’t fight a World Championship and at the same time fighting for Presidency. Too much draining thoughts is bad when you’re in boxing.”

Promoter-manager-matchmaker Brico Santig of Dubai
“Si Manny Pacquioa di na bumalik iyong dating galaw nya ,syempre tumatanda na sya”

Manager-matchmaker Art Monis of Manila
“Talo talaga, dapat mag retire na lang sayang kasi baka kong lalaban pa ng mga bata at magaling na boxer baka ma disgrasya pa. Nakakalongkot wag naman sana mangyari na ganon, wala siyang patutunayan. Sana mga naka paligid sa kanya yon na ang advice. Alam ko marami tayong mga Pilipino na nag mamahal sa kanya. Pera nya sobra sobra na. Sana sya nalang tutulong sa mga pilipino na boxers na may potential.”

Promoter Willie Neri of Davao City
“Bitaw nawala na iyang in and out lateral move, plus quick na suntok plus power”

Matchmaker-coach Art Advincula of Gen. Santos City
“Sa dula pildi jud c Sen. Manny. Sayu nga na check ni Ugas c Manny tungod kataas og kadakuon ni Ugas.”

Ring physician Rene Bonsubre of Cebu
“He is no longer the Pacquiao who beat all those future Hall of Famers….and he has nothing to prove anymore.”

Trainer Jun Paderna of Dubai
“Medyo bumagal na talaga si Senator. Marami kase puede factors na tingan. Edad o yong matagal na pagka lay off bago makapag laro ulit”.

Sportswriter Leonard Palo of Davao City
“Manny is no doubt one of the best professional boxers of this generation but maybe it’s high time he thinks about finally hanging up his gloves for good. His fight with Ugas is proof that age plays a huge factor against a younger fighter whose taller and also quite skilled for an orthodox.
Kailangan na nyang pag isipan ng mabuti kung lalaban pa ba sya uli one last time or just focus on his political career. He’s still a strong fighter at 42 but against the younger class, maybe he’s not as strong as he was years ago.”

Journalist Fred Lumba of Gensan
“Decisions should have been majority draw. Nobody was down, neither fighter outshone nor outclassed the other. No clear advantage by either fighter was established.”