Time for Manny to consider early retirement

I have said this before and I will say it again, especially since his devastating win over Erik Morales substantially proves my earlier point --- that Manny Pacquiao has got nothing more to prove and almost everything to lose if he decides to keep on fighting.

Money-wise, Pacquiao is now close to being a peso billionaire, if he is not so already. That makes him far richer than most other rich people we know. What he already has in his pocket is simply not worth risking to some lucky punch that could permanently disable him.

Manny and his fans may be tempted to invoke that ephemeral virtue called love of boxing. Of course he loves boxing. But love was not the reason he took up boxing. It was grinding poverty that made him and countless other boxers to take their chances in such a dangerous sport.

Those who truly love boxing are in the amateur version of the sport. They do it not for financial success but for personal glory and national pride. Once they achieve that, they almost always give up the sport and resume " normal " lives.

Most professional boxers are in it for the money and the few moments of fame if luck is with them. Those who are not as financially desperate seek less risky means of livelihood. I have yet to see a millionaire become a professional boxer either for kicks or love of the sport.

How about love of country, you may ask. Come on. Love of country is not the monopoly of boxing champions. Even those who have never set foot on a ring can love his country as intensely as a thousand Manny Pacquiaos.

The truth is, our patriotism is only intense now because he is on a winning skein and we as a nation desperately need something to make us feel good about ourselves. But Manny should be forewarned about how fickle people can get the moment he starts losing, as someday he must.

If Manny quits now, nobody can hold a candle to his face and accuse him of turning chicken. He is on top of his class. He has conquered the best. After Morales, there are no more legitimate pretenders to his throne.

All that are left are the unknowns and the also-rans, fighters who at this stage in their careers have nothing to lose but everything to gain from the lucrative chance to fight Manny Pacquiao, even if only for the dubious distinction of getting knocked out by him.

Of course there is still Marco Antonio Barrera, the actual superfeatherweight division champion whom Pacquiao already demolished earlier. If Barrera is making noises now about another fight, it is for the chance to redeem himself, not for Manny to prove anything.

Besides, Barrera is not agitating merely out of wounded pride. More than anything, he is also tantalized by the big bucks that Mannny can pour into a fight. Like Manny, Barrera also has no one else to fight. The difference is Manny can now retire comfortably while Barrera cannot.

So, other than those truly seized by national pride in egging Manny to fight on, the rest of who I see chanting down the road are mostly those fired by motives that are less rewarding to the national interest.

Promoters and non-fighting boxing professionals are fighting over Manny because he is a hot commodity. They point out to Manny that he is still good for a few more years. What they do not tell him is that their fingers are really resting on the other side of the balance sheet.

Sure, Manny is in his prime. But with everything stacked in his favor, the only way the chips can go is down. Fighting on only increases the risk of tempting fate to intervene. All it takes is one wayward punch and, God forbid, Manny can go tweedly twat.