Manny Pacquiao's original plan to wait until September before resuming his boxing career had all the sound logic that fighting in April does not.
Well, it appears that logic has been cast away in the pursuit of money. Pacquiao is now getting set to fight in April. FightNights.com shares the news:
Arum planning a mega card on April 20th featuring Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire.
— FightNights.com™ (@boxing) January 12, 2013
Ronnie Nathanielsz in the Manila Stand Today and Boxing Scene reported the same news and added that the two opponents mentioned for this possible April card are Brandon Rios or Humberto Soto. Also that Manila is being eyed as a location for the fight.
That last part is the key as to why this fight date is such a bad idea.
Following Pacquiao's brutal knockout by the fist of Juan Manuel Marquez this past Dec. 8, the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Pacquiao from the ring for 120 days and for 90 days from any contact boxing. They also ordered him to undergo brain testing.
This was all out of concern over the possible damage caused by his vicious knockout.
Obviously, the Nevada State Athletic Commission only regulates fighting in Nevada. So, the suspension was easy enough for the Pacquiao camp to work around, which explains the Manila location. But that doesn't make it a good idea.
The commission didn't level this suspension as a form of punishment, but of concern over the health of Pacquiao. After all, it is in the best interest of the state to have Pacquiao have money-making fights there as often as possible.
Now, Pacquiao is going to be rushed back to the ring, and it is hard to see that being for any reason other than trying to generate extra revenue.
The problem with this is, this fight could be putting Pacquiao's career in serious jeopardy. To get ready for a fight in April, Pacquiao will undoubtedly have to begin sparring before the 90-day mark that the NSAC invoked.
Then there is also the matter of the fight itself. While neither Rios nor Soto would give a healthy and well-prepared Pacquiao much of a challenge, who knows what kind of shape Pacquiao will be in.
A bad showing by Pacquiao in this fight will cause his earning power to take a serious hit, and that's assuming that bad showing doesn't involve something that might end his career.
Patience is a virtue and a trait that Pacquiao's camp would be well-served to practice.
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