Manny Pacquiao: If He Loses to Juan Manuel Marquez, What's Next for Pacman?

Some fans have considered it a foregone conclusion that Manny Pacquiao will beat Juan Manuel Marquez this coming Saturday when they meet in the ring.

Other have even wondered if Floyd Mayweather's next fight will be the one in which he fights the pugilistic Filipino politician.

But what if Pacman doesn't win?

It isn't that much of a stretch when thought out.

Both of the fights between Marquez and Pacquiao have been close affairs.  Some fans believe Marquez won the fights, while Pacman supporters believe that their man was victorious.  Whatever side of the debate a fan may be on, the truth is both fights tested Pacquiao.

Marquez just seems to have Pacquiao's number, which is why the Filipino fighter struggles each time they meet.

So, what might happen if Pacquiao loses?

The first thing would have nothing to do with the victor or the loser.  Mayweather would come forward and claim he no longer has to fight Pacquiao because he beat Marquez and, unlike Pacquiao, is not coming off a loss.  It would essentially end talks about a superfight between the two and give Mayweather an out.

Boxing is very much a "what have you done now for me" sport.  A loss for Pacquiao would mean a step back.

It would also means a pay cut for Pacquiao should he fight again.  Considering the level he is fighting on and his career in politics in the Philippine,s he might decide to not fight again.

Fans might think that Pacquiao would immediately rematch Marquez, but the real question would be why should he?

Even if he did win, Mayweather would claim he wouldn't need to beat Pacman, and after a rematch with Marquez there wouldn't be any other marquee fights out there for him.

Fun and interesting fights, yes, but not ones that would economically sustain him.

Pacquiao is unlike many fighters in the fact that he not only has a plan with what he wants to do out of the ring, but he is in the midst of achieving it.

Manny Pacquiao has done something most fighters never seem to accomplish.  He has found a way to step away from boxing and move on with his life.  Though his final days in the gym haven't come yet, they are approaching fast.  If he loses to Marquez he will probably just move on to being a full-time politician.

And then Pacquiao can do in politics what he has done in the ring all along: Fight for his people.