What could Pacquiao possibly have left in the tank?
Maybe this will be Manny Pacquiao’s final fight.
No, he’s not scheduled to get into the ring again anytime soon, not after Saturday’s loss to Jeff Horn in Australia. Pacquiao would just like the WBO to take another look at it.
According to the Associated Press, the Philippines’ Games and Amusements Board made a request to World Boxing Organization president Francisco Valcarcel for a thorough review of the refereeing and judging of the bout.
And Pacquiao backed it.
« I had already accepted the decision, but as a leader and, at the same time, fighter, I have the moral obligation to uphold sportsmanship, truth and fairness in the eyes of the public, » Pacquiao said in a statement . « I love boxing, and I don’t want to see it dying because of unfair decision and officiating. »
Pacquiao’s loss to Horn was a unanimous decision, but not without controversy .
Judge Waleska Roldan of New York scored it 117-111, while the other two had it 115-113. While most boxing observers suggested Pacquiao won the fight, many noted it was close enough that a 115-113 decision for Horn was at least plausible.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said it was a « close fight. It could have gone either way. »
So, Horn-Pacquiao II? There’s a rematch clause, but trainer Freddie Roach either hopes his fighter walks away now or uses that bout as a final sendoff.
« I would suggest to Manny that he retire now, but he wants to have that rematch in a neutral area, maybe in the Philippines. As a going-away party, I think that would be great, but then that’s it, » Roach told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole.
The 38-year-old Pacquiao hasn’t worn out his welcome among boxing fans, as the Horn fight (televised live on ESPN) generated strong ratings. But he’s no longer the fighter who blasted his way through Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and others.
