Manny Pacquiao is a man with options once his boxing career comes to an end.
Pacquiao, 33, started working on those options years ago. He may not be looked at seriously in some circles, but Pacquiao is a politician who has been elected to office in his native Philippines.
He is also a singer and an actor.
More than any one single activity, Pacquiao appears to be a warm and caring individual who is concerned with human rights and helping the down-trodden members of society.
Unlike many athletes, Pacquiao is concerned with the outside world and he seems to want to help those who don't have opportunities to take care of themselves and their families.
Having political and show business aspirations are admirable for a boxer who has come to the conclusion of his career and Pacquiao deserves credit for planning for the ending that all fighters must eventually face.
However, it's not time for him to retire from the sport after he fights Juan Manuel Marquez for the fourth time.
It's not that he has to keep fighting for his own legacy; Pacquiao needs to keep fighting for the good of the sport.
Along with Floyd "Money" Mayweather, Pacquiao is one of the two most popular and well-known figures in professional boxing.
There are other solid fighters who approach those two in terms of popularity and ability, but they don't exceed what Mayweather and Pacquiao have done in the ring.
The idea that those two will meet in the ring has not yet faded. Boxing fans have been longing for this matchup for several years, but it has not come about for several reasons.
The biggest of those reasons is most likely Mayweather's ego. He has wanted the lion's share of the purse and billing. As a result, the two fighters have been waltzing around this potential super fight instead of meeting in the ring (h/t BoxingNews24.com).
Aside from a meeting with Mayweather, Pacquiao's action-packed style is simply good for the sport. Pacquiao is a smart, aggressive and talented fighter who will take a punch or two in order to launch a combination.
He is not reckless in the ring, but he is courageous. He can and will take punishment if he has to and then dish it out in spectacular fashion.
More than anything, Pacquiao's style is usually crowd pleasing.
The sport needs him because he has talent, charisma and he fights with integrity.
Whether he and Mayweather meet in a long-awaited bout or not, when Pacquiao gets in the ring, the spotlight focuses on the sport of boxing.
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