Former world champion Ricky Hatton believes Manny Pacquiao should retire from boxing, after the 33-year-old Filipino was brutally knocked out in Las Vegas.
The Briton, a former world light-welterweight and welterweight champion, was himself knocked out by Pacquiao in May 2009 in what was then only his second professional career loss.
Hatton, 34, who is in Hong Kong, where he is hoping to unearth Chinese boxing talent in his role as a promoter, said: “The only advice I could give Manny Pacquiao is that his legacy is already secured.
“The thing is with us fighters is that there is always one more fight,” said Hatton, who was knocked out by Vyacheslav Senchenko in a failed return to the ring in November, in what he says was his last fight.
“What’s he (Pacquiao) going to achieve by having one more fight? Probably nothing. He’s an eight-weight world champion. There’s nothing more to be said. You’d like to see him go into retirement and spend some time with his family and be happy. He can’t do any more from a boxing point of view.”
Pacquiao, who turns 34 next week, is under intense pressure to hang up his gloves after he was floored by his great Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez.
His wife Jinkee even made a tearful appeal on camera for her husband to quit the sport in the immediate aftermath of defeat. His mother Dionisia also made the same appeal after Pacquiao’s second loss in a row.
Philippine media commentators are also almost unanimous in thinking Pacquiao should retire, suspecting nearly 18 years of pro ring combat are now taking their toll.
“In the end, he was conquered by Father Time after it turned out he could no longer take a solid punch,” wrote Recah Trinidad in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
TV analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz added in the Manila Standard: “The sight of Freddie Roach himself riddled by Parkinson’s disease and Muhammad Ali, wracked by the disease, sends shivers among many who care deeply for Pacquiao.”
Philippine Olympic Committee vice-president Joey Romasanta told the Manila Bulletin: “It would have been nice if he had retired while he was ahead. After this loss, Manny should read the signs and consider these things.”
