Add veteran matchmaker Bob Arum to the growing number of people who are concerned with Manny Pacquiao’s decision to continue fighting.
Arum pointed out that Pacquiao, now 40 years old, should never fight again and avoid risking brain injury.
“I really am worried, he knows how I feel,” Arum told Fight Hub TV as reported by inquirer.net.
Arum admitted Pacquiao did well in his split decision win over Keith Thurman but the Filipino boxing legend took many hits.
“I’m really concerned. He can’t take that kind of punishment at that age and wind up—God forbid—like Muhammad Ali,” Arum added.
Arum said fighting at such age poses great danger for the eight-division world champion.
“If he had done the same years back, hey, really great, you don’t worry about him so much. But in his 40s? To take punishment like that? I really am worried,” Arum said.
Like Arum, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach and former tormentor Juan Manuel Marquez also expressed concern with Pacquiao prolonging his career.
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen to Manny but he needs to decide for his future,” Marquez said. “He’s getting hit too much, Thurman landed many punches with power.”
Arum stressed that if Pacquiao decides to continue, he should carefully choose his opponents.
And if there’s one fighter that Pacquiao should face, it should be Floyd Mayweather.
“His best option is either to retire or wait for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather,” Arum said.
