Boxing: What Would Happen If Manny Pacquiao Got Knocked Out?

There must be millions of boxing fans out there who quietly dread the day Manny Pacquiao announces his retirement from boxing.

Pacquiao represents too many things to the worldwide Filipino community, thus his absence would prove to be devastating. Most of these people are patriots and fellow countrymen—they see Pacquiao as an example, not only in boxing, but in everything else life can throw at you.

He is a successful sportsman, actor, singer, promoter, businessman and family man. But what would his retirement mean to you and me, and the rest of the boxing community?

Undoubtedly, we would lose a living legend.

Pacquiao is one of the most exciting fighters to ever step inside the ring. Everyone he fought, and I don’t need to give a lecture on his exceedingly impressive resume, fell to his relentless athletic attributes.

Of course, there are only two ways to retire from the sport of boxing—undefeated or defeated.

Retiring undefeated is always hard to do, as there is no real indication or confirmation that skills have deteriorated and require leaving. Only after losing a fight in a destructive fashion does a fighter stop and think of his current position and options.

So, what would happen to the average fan as well as the masses if Pacquiao got knocked out?  

There isn’t a sequential domino effect in the response to Pacquiao’s knockout. Things would not go in order.

No, instead it would be a massive explosion of media (fan and freelance) speculation, prediction and most definitely blame. All this would flare up at the same time, causing a media overflow of false and authentic information mixed together into one abysmal mess.

Freddie Roach would immediately get bombarded with questions, since being the man behind the plan, required explanation. Everything would be questioned—how did politics involve his training camp, PEDs, age and, of course, future?

A rematch would get aggressive coverage, as millions would demand a chance for redemption.

What is crucial in looking at this scenario is who knocks Pacquiao out. This is important because it would either leave room for bigger and better things, or would eliminate most options for a way back up.

For instance, if anyone but Mayweather Jr. knocked Pacquiao out, it would create a media buzz, but a fight with Mayweather Jr. would not lose its importance or momentum.

This would be Pacquiao’s security blanket so to say. But if Mayweather Jr. is the one to put Pacquiao away, game over.

It is more than likely that Pacquiao himself would not absorb much media damage. I would think that his whole team would be the one to get blasted with questions and demands for immediate answers.

Blaming Pacquiao would be dangerous for the Filipino economy, as well as boxing itself. He would stand on the sidelines, quietly. In response, maybe Pacquiao would replace someone, call it the “right thing to do as it was the cause of the problem,” and avoid much career damage. 

The main question is: Would a knockout of Pacquiao be good for boxing?

Well, most would want to say no, but I give solid thumbs up. This would make people realize that he is not invincible and can be beaten by a human being.

This would also stimulate boxing, as this kind of news would go viral in minutes.

A re-match would get astronomical figures. People that have never seen a boxing match in their lives would tune in.

There would also be more coverage for the other fighters. Yes, this may seem like news to some, but we have plenty of talented boxers out there besides Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr.

All of them deserve attention, as they are the ones next in line.       

Would Pacquiao lose any of his historical fame and significance if he was to get knocked out? Not only is that unlikely, but it’s absurd.

He is already in the books and a legend at that. The biggest effect his loss would have would be on his countrymen.

Over time, he became "holy" in the Philippines and his countrymen praise him as one—losing him would be a calamity.    

There will be a void in the sport of boxing when Manny retires.

Nevertheless, I predict a very smooth transition to another superstar who will be expected to deliver the goods.

Boxing will go on—it will shape itself to fit the requirements of the modern boxing fan.

There will be good fights, exciting championships, brutal knockouts and funny late night shows.

Pacquiao is just one man who happened to be at the right place at the right time.

The media concentrated on him and molded a superhero out of his image. He is aggressively marketed and has made himself a household name.

As far as the Filipinos go, they needn’t worry. They have a Pacquiao-like fighter coming up the boxing pipeline.

Like Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr. has gone through a rough patch in his life.

According to Ring Magazine, he is amongst the top five pound-for-pound boxers in the world. If things keep going right for him, the boxing community as well as the whole population of the Philippines will have something very exciting to look forward to.