Manny Pacquiao Reportedly Taken to Hospital Following Marquez Fight

Manny Pacquiao's brutal knockout by the fist of Juan Manuel Marquez has earned him a trip to the hospital.

Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole tweeted out the news:

"

Manny not coming to presser. Going to hospital for CAT scan

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) December 9, 2012"

Anyone who saw Pacquiao laying face down and motionless on the canvas will not be surprised by this news. 

UPDATE: Saturday, Dec. 8 at 2:26 a.m. ET by Richard Langford

Well, Manny quickly put to rest any speculation that this might end his career. GMA tweeted out the news. 

"

Pacquiao: (I will) take a rest. After a few months, back to training and back to fight. #PacMarquez

— GMA News (@gmanews) December 9, 2012"

---end of update---

In the sixth round, Pacquiao was leaning in on the follow-through of a punch as Marquez loaded up for a monstrous overhand right that caught Manny square in the face. Pac-Man instantly sank to the canvas, and did not move for several anxious moments.

By all visual accounts, he was out cold.  

However, Pacquiao did get up, and there was not a lot of medical attention paid to him at the time. He also gave a brief interview after the fight and seemed to be in decent shape, given what he'd just endured. 

Still, there is no questioning the decision to send him to the hospital. You can never be too cautious with this kind of injury. Obviously, the potential for some kind of brain injury is huge. The dude just got blasted in the face. 

Hopefully the CAT scan doesn't reveal anything concerning, but it will certainly be worth monitoring. 

This could easily be the straw that breaks the camel's back in terms of Pacquiao's boxing career. He is just 33, but this was his 61st professional fight, and anyone who has followed his career can tell you it has been years since Pac-Man was in his prime.