Op-Ed: Pacquiao's fight against Mayweather could be his last

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is celebrating his 31st birthday tomorrow, December 17. The popular Filipino boxer says his upcoming fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. could be his last.

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquaio deserves a special birthday greetings on his 31st birthday tomorrow December 17, 2009. Manny’s 31st birthday celebration is significant because next year he will be 32 and nowhere you can find that number in our calendar. If Manny believes in the saying that ‘Life Begins at 40’, then he has 10 more years to play around but having hinted on his early retirement, his boxing fans will most likely be happy with his announcement. Manny says his upcoming fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. - tentatively set for March 13 - next year could be his last as a professional boxer. He seems to heed his mother’s appeal for him to step down from the ring as she could no longer take the punishment that the pound-for-pound king gets from the more superior fighters whenever he climbs the ring. Millions of Manny’s fans in the Philippines and from across the world are rejoicing at the boxer’s announcement of early retirement although some of his most loyal fans want him to be active for a few more years. As a budding sportswriter, I have received hundreds of letters and emails from my readers about Manny Pacquiao as a person, being a Filipino, his childhood, his humility, family and his boxing career and other qualities that every Filipino should emulate. The letters and comments to my news articles from my readers and viewers about Manny Pacquiao have inspired me to write more inspiring articles about the man and his quest for greatness, from his humble beginning to where he is today. I have written close to 500 articles about Manny Pacquiao and his life story. Today after more than a year of publishing news stories on Digital Journal about Manny’s career as a professional boxer, I have surprisingly accumulated over one million page views for my news articles about the Filipino boxing icon. I must have been instrumental in creating hype and generating more revenues for the promoters as well as the boxers every time a Pacquiao fight is held and promoted. For my favorite boxing idol, here’s my special birthday gift for you. I hope you will find time to read them. http://www.digitaljournal.com/user/87844/news Wishing you the very best on your birthday and Merry Christmas to you and your loving family. Leo Reyes, Digital Journal