A fitting farewell

On the pilot episode of the daily online boxing show “Round By Round” (Monday to Friday at 6 p.m. on Facebook and 7 p.m. on YouTube), this writer led a lively discussion on what a fitting farewell appearance for Manny Pacquiao should look like. Along with co-hosts Dennis Principe, Ryan Songalia, Atty. Ed Tolentino, Nissi Icasiano and Boyet Sison, we were unanimous in saying that the eight-division world champion’s last fight should be on Philippine soil. Almost all of us agreed that the Philippine Arena or an open field would be large enough for such a historic happening. But there were different ideas on who his opponent should be.

Unlike in basketball, there are no farewell tours, no formal goodbyes in boxing. No ceremony; no parting gifts. No standing ovations from formerly hostile home crowds. You stop fighting, and that’s it.  For someone of Manny’s stature, that simply will not do. There must be a period, or even an exclamation point, not a listless ellipsis.

Of course, we have to admit selfish motives for such a fight. It’s more for us to have closure, to say thank you properly. To say goodbye properly. To have that you-remember-where-you-were-on-that-day moment, like Pinatubo, Yolanda, earthquakes and epic events. After all, Pacquiao was, for the longest time, a crime-stopping force of nature himself.

So anyway, it was initially agreed among us that he would fight one last time, in the Philippines, against a relatively light opponent. Maybe a Roberto Guerrero, or one of Pacquiao’s previous fallen victims who would appreciate a nice parting paycheck. It would be a good fight, but one where he wouldn’t be in any real danger, if we had our way. We would pay to see him one more time. Of course, now there’s talk of a rematch with Yordenis Ugas, if the WBA champion Cuban doesn’t decide on a unification bout against IBF/WBC champ Errol Spence Jr. And if the WBA decides which belt Ugas is holding, after all.

But as I suggested, Pacquiao should fight a tune-up first, the only remedy for ring rust. He jumped into the ring against Ugas after two years of inactivity. Bad idea.

And since the result of his last bout wouldn’t matter anyway (except maybe for his future political plans), I recommended a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., or a fifth go-around with Juan Manuel Marquez. People would pay to see that, for old time’s sake. Win or lose, it would be an exciting fight. Then he could walk into the twilight, and we would be satisfied, and sleep well at night.