MANNY PACQUIAO COULD HAVE PARKINSON'S – SHOULD HE RETIRE?

Manny Pacquiao after his fight against Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on June 9, 2012 - Credit - Getty Images

Manny Pacquiao has some serious thinking to do.

Despite never examining him up close, neurologist Dr. Rustico Jimenez speculated Thursday that the Filipino boxer might be showing the first signs of Parkinson’s disease. Jimenez, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, said he was concerned about Pacquiao’s health after he suffered a hard knockout at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez at the end of 2012.

Parkinson’s disease is one that has plagued some boxers late into their respective careers and has continued to affect them well after. Muhammad Ali currently suffers from Parkinson’s disease, does as Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach.

Dr. Jimenez isn’t alone in worrying about the boxer’s health. Dr. Raquel Fortun said she was not convinced by the CT scan results from
Pacquiao’s post-fight exam, and “expressed alarm” over reports that Pacquiao could have had a slight seizure after Marquez knocked him out.

Pacquiao has yet to make a public announcement about whether he will retire, but there is much hope for him after boxing — whenever the end may come. For one, he is very politically involved and is a member of the Filipino House of Representatives. Many entertainment ventures, speaking engagements, and other similar opportunities could lie ahead.

He is also very secure in the fiscal area of his life, sitting at No. 2 on the FORBES list of highest-paid athletes, behind only Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Not too bad for a man who was raised in poverty and made his fortune with his two fists. That makes him a fighter in the ring, and in heart.

But if Pacquiao does retire, where will he stand in the history of greatest boxers? In a little more than a decade and a half, he has wracked up 54 wins (38 KOs), 5 loses and 2 draws in 61 pro bouts. His record is a little bit better than that of Mike Tyson (50 wins, 6 loses, 0 draws, 2 no contests), though 44 of Iron Mike’s wins were KOs.
Rocky Marciano (49 wins: 43 KOs, 6 decisions) and Mayweather (43 wins: 26 KOs, 17 decisions) never got to 50 wins, but neither one ever lost, either.

Which begs the question of whether Pacquiao and Mayweather could ever fight each other, a potential bout that has been discussed for years and could net to a total of 100 million for the fighters to split, if not more. And even if Pacquiao were to continue fighting, he would probably want to get a handful of wins under his belt to boost his confidence after losing to Marquez and Timothy Bradley in 2012. Pacquiao and Mayweather wouldn’t fight, in all likeliness, until 2014 or 2015, which puts plenty of time between now and then for Pacquiao’s health to be at a greater risk.

Whether he retires now or maybe a couple of years from now, it is almost certain that Pacquiao will not come close to the legendary status of some men who fought long before him, at least as far as total wins are concerned. From 1940-65, Sugar Ray Robinson had 200 fights, winning 173 with 19 loses, 6 draws and 2 no contests. Willie Pep had more KOs (65) than Pacquiao has total fights, and won 229 of his 241 total fights from 1940-66. And Jack Johnson helped make the sport what it is, winning 73 times (40 KOs) in 114 fights from 1897-1945.

Pacquiao’s wife wants him to retire. Doctors suggest he should. Whatever his decision is — to continue fighting or hang up his gloves for the sake of his health — Pacquiao has the the final say, and the boxing community will respect him. Whatever he chooses, he’ll go down as one of the greatest, all stats aside.

Follow me on Twitter at @LanceMadden.