Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Could Pacman Retire After Beating Marquez?

Justin TateOct 26, 2011

Manny Pacquiao faces his rival Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time this November 12. After having such a storied career of 53 wins, only three losses, and two draws, it's time to consider the end.

Every boxing career is a narrative that has a beginning, middle and end. Most great fighters have beginnings that contain a string of no-names that must be beaten into obscurity to achieve fame.

The middle is defined by defeating other great fighters, which Pacquiao has against the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, among others.

The end of many great boxing narratives is rarely defined by a clean break off. Usually boxers can't get away right before the inevitable betrayal by their bodies.

They age right before the public with thoughts moving fast as lightning, but feet and fists snailing behind by a few seconds when they once were in total sync.

To avoid this seemingly inevitable end, Pacquiao must decide when to end his career.

To end his career, he needs a great fight that can act as a bloody beautiful finale to a brilliant career. A trilogy with Juan Manuel Marquez seems to be the trick, but is it?

Yes Pacquiao Can Retire Should He Defeat Marquez

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Throughout Pacquiao's storied career, not many fighters have given him much challenge. Sure Pacquiao lost twice at his early weights, but he's only suffered one loss in recent times.

That lost was avenged twice over against Erik Morales by way of knockout. Marquez represents the last opponent to give him a draw in the last seven years and the only fighter to lose a split decision to Pacquiao.

Both their first and second fight were savage beautiful exchanges of violence that were the apex of the sport. A third and final match will end all the speculation of Marquez possibly having Pacquiao's number.

Without Marquez's distinct insider knowledge as to how Pacquiao fights, what other danger presents itself? De La Hoya has beaten bigger men like Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 Knockouts) and Antonio Margarito 38-7, 27 Knockouts). Nothing else can beat him, right?

No Pacquiao Needs a More Daring Clash

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Pacquiao became a famous boxer in 2008 for jumping multiple weight classes to face someone it was believed could kill him in the ring, De La Hoya.

In 2009, Pacquiao also made short work of junior welterweight Hatton and backed down the challenge of strong welterweight Miguel Cotto.

For someone who began 2008 as a super featherweight, Pacquiao had appeared to be asserting himself into a David and Goliath scenario in boxing. This would become his trademark narrative.

Pacquiao, the official holder of the world record for having a world title in the most divisions, eight. Isn't it a poor end such an inspiring career to earn a victory over an opponent made to come up two divisions?

Marquez is a lightweight made to jump to welterweight where Pacquiao currently is and Marquez did horribly the one time he was made to jump the same amount of weight classes against Mayweather.

A final weight jumping challenge remains with Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 Knockouts), the lineal middleweight world champion, who has issued out challenges to Pacquiao in the past.

Sergio Martinez: Will a Catchweight Tarnish the Challenge?

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Martinez has said that Pacquiao is too small, but believes the two warriors could meet in the division in the middle, which is 154 lbs.

Pacquiao hears Martinez's desires to fight him and issues a 150 lb catch weight, which Martinez agrees.

Then Pacquiao hears of that and says he'll face Martinez if he can make 147 lbs, the welterweight limit.

Pacquiao received criticism for his catch weight last year against Margarito. Fighting this fight in a similar fashion may be more damaging than helpful to his legacy.

If Pacquiao could dig down deep to challenge himself and inspire those of us who like to see someone face the "seemingly" impossible odds, then facing Martinez at 154 would be great.

If Pacquiao would have to catch weight this fight to death, then it's best Pacquiao just retire without it as the criticism wouldn't make the win worth it.

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No Pacquiao Can't Retire Without Fights Against Younger Competition

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Though Pacquiao has fought a plethora of worthy foes, his last opponent to enter the ring younger than him was a 29-year-old Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 Knockouts).

There's been an onslaught of praise for the junior welterweights in recent years. The reside only one division south of Pacquiao. It's been perceived that the best of the division would rise to welterweight one day.

So far Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 Knockouts) has moved up and had one major victory over previously undefeated Andre Berto (28-1, 22 Knockouts) and a controversial loss to Mayweather.

With other talented and even higher praised junior welterweights moving up like Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 Knockouts) and even welterweights currently in the division growing in fame such as Mike Jones (25-0, 19 Knockouts), the chance to face a few hungry youthful opponents is here.

Yes Pacquiao Can Retire Without the Younger Fighters

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Let's face it. The younger fighters need some development or Pacquiao needs to fall off a little bit before any of these young guys can touch him.

Bradley's only had one fight as a full-fledged welterweight and that was against an unknown albeit undefeated boxer who was barely ranked (No. 10) at the time.

Jones barely beat a very limited Jesus Soto Karass (24-6-3, 16 Knockouts) twice. Some even question the validity of the decision awarded to Jones, believing Karass outworked the Philly fighter.

With fighters such as these being the best options available, Pacquiao doesn't need to stick around. He'd just dominate the game or suffer a loss that would be due more to age than any of these fighter's actual skill.

What About Amir Khan?

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Amir Khan (26-1, 18 Knockouts) is Freddie Roach's latest pupil. Khan and Pacquiao have sparred and become good friends as a result of their training under Roach, but what if they fought each other.

Roach has already placed his foot in the ground to say he'll be in Pacquiao's corner should the fight go down.

Khan has become the best junior welterweight and is expected to rock the welterweight division should he move up next year.

With Pacquiao not having any true suitable dominant young opponents to challenge him, Khan may be the best and possibly only choice worth sticking around for.

If Pacquiao Retires After Marquez, the Win Needs to Be Dominant

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After having a 2004 draw and a 2008 split decision over Marquez, Pacquiao needs either a clearly dominant unanimous decision or more preferably a knockout victory.

Marquez has talked his talk and claimed to beat Pacquiao twice. Pacquiao on the other hand has fought elsewhere and gained fame and fortune.

This rivalry should end with a period, not a comma. If for some reason this trilogy ends with a controversial ending, Pacquiao needs to reuse the rematch policy to make this a quadrilogy.

Floyd Mayweather Dream Fight: Is It Necessary? Yes.

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Mayweather has been an elusive character ever since Pacquiao jolted the super fight into being by ending De La Hoya's career in eight rounds December 2008.

Mayweather was retired at the time, so the fight couldn't happen. But the imaginations of many grew the fascination with the fight through what ifs and pondering on how the fight would turn out.

Mayweather returned in September 2009 to give fans hope he would clash against Pacquiao by taking on Pacquiao's greatest rival Marquez.

By clearly outclassing Marquez, Mayweather was firing back at Pacquiao's legacy. The two have traded words in the media. They've fought many opponents, trading impressive pay-per-view numbers.

Because Mayweather is clearly the other great fighter of this era. Without a fight against Pacquiao's throne would be one won by default rather than merit.

Both fighters have said that they don't need each other but that is far from the truth. Egos may be high because of their respective accomplishments but for a fight of this magnitude, egos should be put away.

If Pacquiao won't sit down in serious negotiation for his fight, then it won't happen. Threatening to sign another fight as if this fight with Mayweather is not important is not a way to do negotiations.

Either they get serious about negotiations or they won't ever land the fight.

Floyd Mayweather Dream Fight: Is It Necessary? No.

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Pacquiao has created his own distinct legacy by beating the opponents Mayweather has beaten in a far more entertaining fashion.

Mayweather struggled for a split decision against De La Hoya. Pacquiao made him quit in eight.

Mayweather knocked Hatton out in 10 rounds. Pacquiao knocked him out in two.

Mayweather was nearly knocked down by Mosley in Round 2 of their matchup before Mayweather began to dominate him from then on.

Pacquiao had Mosley on the run whole fight after knocking him down in Round 3. Pacquiao could use the boost a victory against Mayweather would provide, but it isn't necessary.

His career is complete and fulfilled. His fans have been given great performances. His critics that aren't Mayweather fans have been silenced (at least after November 12). He has nothing more to do.

It's time he hang up those gloves and enjoy the hundreds of millions he'll make from endorsements and public appearances that don't involve a boxing ring.