What If Pacquiao Wins Big?

Things to ponder...

Let's face it - the Mayweather-Pacquiao era is over. But that doesn't mean we've seen the last of Manny. Even though it's a pretty safe bet many would simply  like the sport to move one, Pacquiao is still fighting Tim Bradley next month. Frankly, I have a feeling Bradley may pull it off this time. But what if he doesn't? What if PacMan looks not only good, but really good? What will people say, then?

Well, it will be hard to argue that Manny isn't the best welterweight in the sport, even if he did lose to Mayweather last year. Timothy Bradley is no joke, after all. Indeed, some people forget just how strong Bradley's resume is. I myself feel he's already earned the right to be a Hall of Famer. The fact that, should Pacquiao win in April, most people would feel he beat Bradley three straight times is saying a lot.

Ask yourself this - can anyone in the division right now beat a quality Pacquiao? Thurman? Porter? Garcia? Brook? Would any of those men be favored against a Manny whose performing at the level he did against Rios and Algieri? Probably not. Again, that's saying a lot.

So let's not be so quick to write Pacquiao off just yet. While it's true the sport of boxing needs a breath of fresh air, believing Manny really is one fight away from retirement might be putting the cart before the horse. I suspect he'll be back if he wins in May and I get the feeling I'm not alone.

The Mayweather-Pacquiao era may indeed be over. The career of Pacquiao, however, just might end up having good reason to keep chugging along.