Given the diversity and time-consuming nature of Pacquiao's interests, trainer Freddie Roach has been among those questioning how much longer the fighter known as "Pacman" will continue to fight in the ring.--CNN Wire Staff, May 8, 2011, 2:07 am edt

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We tried our best. We both gave it our best effort. My legs tightened up during the fight. I couldn't move. It's the same thing that happened to me against (Juan Manuel) Marquez. It's been happening to me more lately. [itals mine]

OK, shoot me.  I'm just asking.  Because along with my horror at the thought of our loss of enjoyment,  I do wonder why he should fight at all:   There is essentially no one for him to fight that will fight,  even Manny Pacquiao will age and lose function, if he hasn't already, and he has other, much, much, bigger, much more important things to do.  He really doesn't have to prove anything to anyone, and he doesn't owe either the sport or the fans his health or time subtracted from his after-boxing future.  Especially since he has one.  And although it's a with a huge sense of loss that I even think about his exit from our greedy-for-more-Manny lives, wouldn't it be, however frustrating for us, good for him, and good for the Phillipines for him to just go home and help people that need helping, faculties intact?  Instead of fighting on with perhaps deteriorating legs till he's hurt?

And wouldn't it really be good for the sport, overall, for one real champion to show young "immortal" prospects that it's OK to quit in time, because you're not all going to be President of the Phillipines someday, maybe, but you know what?  if you quit before you sound like Shane Mosley, there really is life after boxing. Marciano set a good standard in this regard--Lennox too--wouldn't more be better?  It looks pretty good to most people in retrospect that they did so--what say ye?

[Ducks incoming]