Retirement talk makes Manny Pacquiao chuckle, really -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

HOLLYWOOD—Truth be told, I don't know if Manny Pacquiao will fight one more time or 10 more times.

Frankly, I don't think he does, either, at this point, a couple of weeks before he fights Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium.

Pacman didn't really take the bait when I told him he did not look the “shy, retiring type” as he exited Coach Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym Monday evening.

But, as he made the short walk out of his usual post-workout dining spot, Nat's Thai Restaurant about two hours after dining with fans, friends, brother Bobby and conditioning/nutrition coach Alex Ariza at his side, I did make the 31 year old Fighting Congressmanny laugh about the topic.

It was Roach who recently suggested that the day is looming when the all time great fighter will hang up the gloves to concentrate on his political and business ambitions.

“Manny,” I said, “you can't retire.”

“How come?” Pacquiao said, offering a quizzical look.

“Because, Manny, if you retire anytime soon, then I can't afford to retire.”

The gym was closed to the media and public but Pepper Roach, ex-fighter turned trainer and Freddie's brother, reported to me that trainer and fighter went through a fast paced 12 plus rounds on the mitts.

Pacquaio laughed and then took off in his black Mercedes Benz.

Veteran Filipino sports announcer Chino Trinidad is among those who detect a difference in the Pinoy Idol's preparation for and attitude towards this particular fight.

Trinidad, who has known and covered Megamanny for 15 years, is not the worrywart type but he wonders if the fighter has lost some of the awesome fire in the belly he's shown in the past.

Except Trinidad describes it another physical way.

“I don't see the flaming embers, the fire in the eyes, I usally see with Manny this close to a fight.” Trinidad said.

“I had often told him he should leave the dabbling in politics until he was done with boxing and now I am wondering whether he is thinking more about politics than his upcoming bout.

“Back then, Manny told he's just driven to help people. But, in recent days, he's been constantly on the phone hearing from all these barangay elections back in Sarangani. All the captains from all the barangays are ringing him up asking for funding and Manny does not delegate his duties. He likes to be in charge of it all.”

Don't write Trinidad off as some casual observer. He's spent most of the past four or five days with Pacquiao, including on the 12-hour flight which brought them from Manila to LAX Saturday night.

Trinidad was a little amazed that Pacman rode down to San Diego after Sunday Mass to make a basketball game appearance tied to the Barona Casino interests. By strict order of Coach Roach, Pacquiao did not play but was limited to coaching.

“Now Manny thinks he's Phil Jackson or Pat Riley,” Trinidad said, laughing.

Pacman was also given the key to National City, south of San Diego, and accepted a proclamation announcing that it was Manny Pacquiao Day in San Diego.

As far as he's concerned, Trinidad wants to see Pacquaio retire at a positive point in his ring career.

“I want to see Manny go out on top, to go out with a bang,” Trinidad said. “I don't want to see him quitting boxing, just another old fighter drooling on himself.”

As for me, I will resist the temptation to do my karaoke version of “What Kind Of Drool Am I.”

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com