Manny Pacquiao Will Destroy Legacy If He Retires Before Fighting Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao has a solid resume for the boxing elite, but if he never fights Mayweather, that resume will be incomplete. 

We are talking about the one other truly great fighter in Pacquiao's era, and all of a sudden, he seems anxious to retire before the two ever fight. 

Here is the latest turn from camp Pacquiao. Tom Weir of the USA Today offered this quote from Pacquiao: 

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It's not right that I share God's word and at the same time hurt other people. I've gained more than enough blessings these past years so I think it's time for me to return the favor.

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Further cementing his new commitment to Catholicism, he has become an ambassador for the church. Weir touches on this and has Pacquiao's subsequent reaction:

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Pacquiao recently accepted an invitation to become an ambassador for the Catholic Church. He also announced he was "no longer in the vice business," and would sell his interest in a casino while also getting rid of his collection of about 1,000 fighting roosters.

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It is pretty clear that Pacquiao is prepared to submerse himself in this new way of life, and any decision that resulted in a retirement would only be slightly hastening his time table for retirement. 

Weir went on to note that, "Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, said last year that he expected Pacquiao to retire by the end of 2013."

When he retires is not the real issue with his legacy. It is what he does before he retires. 

The fact that Pacquiao and Mayweather have not fought is certainly not solely on Manny Pacquiao's shoulders. But if he retired before they fought, it would be. 

He needs to go on a full assault to land a fight with Money. He needs to let it be known that his career will not be complete until he fights Mayweather. If he were to retire without making that effort, the lack of this fight will always hang over his head, and all of a sudden, it will be Pac-Man that history will judge for ducking Mayweather. 

This is not a monkey that a fighter can carry onto his back and walk into the halls of the elite.