It had to happen. Since most sports writers possess only one way of reacting to a boxing card -- to declare boxing dead after the card is over -- I guess it was only a matter of time before before even such a tremendous and satisfying fight as Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV would lead to this reaction. Scoop Jackson, that sage of the sweet science, is on the beat. Here is his reaction to the fight:

It's over. Done. Fin. The future of boxing was already on suicide watch because of a common belief in fixed outcomes, and on proverbial life-support because of the continued growing interest in MMA and UFC fighting -- even before Manny-Juan Manuel IV. The anti-boxing crowd had already begun to dance, arms up like the Rocky statue or Ali after finishing Liston.

This fight will prove pivotal in the direction of the sport. What fight is there on the horizon that non-die-hard boxing aficionados are going to care about? What boxer outside of Mayweather Jr. is going to step into the ring and make us believe he is going to display something we've never seen before while at the same time making us feel that we may be witnessing something or someone historic?

Answers to those two questions: none. And those are the unanswered realities being held against the sport as well as the realities needing answers that boxing desperately needs to survive. Right now, questions are all the sport is hanging on to.

This is the stupidest thing I have read a boxing writer say since ... the last time I read a boxing article on ESPN. Just kidding, sort of. This is actually even worse than the typical dross ESPN writers (outside Rafael) spew about boxing. After one of the greatest fights of modern times that ended in a KO of the year candidate (some would say shoe-in), somehow Scoop Jackson finds a way to declare boxing dead.

This despite the fact that they are already planning a fifth fight between these two! This despite the fact that there are many young fighters like Canelo already making millions and waiting for their turn to shine! This despite the fact that Mayweather, Manny, JuanMa, and Cotto are ALL STILL ACTIVE! This despite the fact that boxing is now back on network television.

I swear if everyone in the world turned on to watch a boxing event and afterwards declared themselves diehard fans, somehow a sports writer somewhere would find a way to declare the sport dead.