People : Manny Pacquiao - The Filipino Icon

Manny Pacquiao the Filipino Boxing Icon

Today is a sad day for the Filipinos and his boxing fans around the world  after watching Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao getting knocked out by Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth and latest fight. Although he lost the fight and KO'd, there was nothing embarrassing in his loss. As a matter of fact he was very much ahead in points  and in control of the fight during the round, but unfortunately KO'd on the closing second of the round. His reputation or popularity will not be diminished by this loss.

Despite the loss, Filipinos and fans are happy that nothing seemed serious happened to him after the KO. (Hopefully, the same finding will come out after his post bout hospital examination).

Manny Pacquiao is still at his peak as a boxer but after what happened today, he should seriously consider retiring from the ring. What happened today showed his vulnerability as a boxer; and a reminder of his mortality as an ordinary mortal. He was lucky not to be hurt this time. The blow he received could have been fatal had it landed on a more sensitive part of his body. Ironically, the first ever KO of his career could be his wake-up call.

He has done all in boxing, with eight title belts to boast. But four encounter with the same boxer is just too much to be called a sports anymore. He must realize that it is just plain business and entertainment now. Time to quit.

Achievement-wise, he has nothing to prove anymore. He has achieved what any athlete in the world wanted to achieve. He is one of the greatest and most popular  sportsman of all time, and one of the riches at that. His name and status in boxing is on a par with the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali.

For Filipinos, he is not just a boxing icon but a national icon. He has made the Filipinos proud and has given his country honors many times over than any other Filipino.

The Filipinos will always be proud of you Manny Pacquiao!

Manny Pacquiao KO'd for the first time