Pacquiao's Farewell Fight Should Be Against 'Solid' But Easy To 'Pound' Opponent, Says Adviser

Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent should tick a lot of boxes.

The upset loss to Yordenis Ugas has got Team Pacquiao gauging the Filipino boxing legend’s next move.

As much as a potential rematch against the Cuban champion is being considered, retirement is also inevitable at this point.

Providing an interesting insight about the matter, MP Promotions boss and Pacquiao’s adviser Sean Gibbons stressed that the fighting senator deserves a “proper send-off.”

According to Gibbons, if Pacquiao’s next fight will be his last, it better be against an opponent who is “solid” but yet “Pac-Man” can “pound to the ground” with ease.

“The senator needs a proper send-off, a tribute to a long, beautiful, and illustrious Hall of Fame career against a solid opponent whom he should pound to the ground,” Gibbons told Philstar Global. “It should be like a big gala type, a celebration of the Senator’s career.”

With criteria of an ideal opponent in his head, Gibbons is certain Ugas is not the type of fighter Pacquiao should take on for the last time.

“We never ever need to see Ugas again,” the executive exclaimed. “In his [Pacquiao’s] prime, the Senator would’ve spanked Ugas and it would’ve been like Ugas fighting three Manny Pacquiaos at the same time because [there’s] no way he could’ve kept up with his speed and movement.”

It can be recalled that shortly after the fight, Pacquiao hinted at his desire to possibly rematch Ugas in January.

"In my entire career, Ugas was one of the easiest opponents," Pacquiao assessed. "[Ugas] only had one style, and I should've been able to easily move away, you've seen how I have moved in my fights before. I couldn't move in this fight. My legs just stopped."

"I can come back in January,” he added. “I will see about it. I know I can rematch [Ugas] if I want. I'll just need to tell [Premier Boxing Champions head] Al Haymon. That would be no problem. I will think about it because I can't believe that one of the easiest opponents I ever faced did that."

Pacquiao’s longtime coach Freddie Roach, meanwhile, is beginning to think that after a long and stellar career, “this could be it” for the world’s only eight-division titlist.

“I’m a little worried about it [Pacquiao’s retirement], yes,” Roach admitted. “He’s boxed for a long, long time and he’s boxed with me for a long-time.”

“[Pacquiao’s] the best customer I’ve ever had,” the veteran trainer continued. “He’s the best guy, the best fighter. You know, I hate to see the day that he will retire but this could be it. And we didn’t have a great performance tonight but we’ll see what Manny decides.”