Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao plans to return to the ring less than seven months after he claimed he was retired from boxing. Getty

Manny Pacquiao rolled back the clock once again after an age-defying performance against the former undefeated champion, Keith Thurman. At age 40, the eight-division champ showed that he can still take care of business. His blinding speed and impeccable timing sent the American to the canvass in the first 3 minutes of the championship match.

For 12 rounds, his agility and timed aggressiveness earned him a unanimous win - along with the WBA "super" welterweight belt. Pacquiao did struggle in the late stages of the bout. In the 10th round, Thurman capitalized when the Filipino icon showed signs of slowing down, but a quick left to the American's body was enough to hold him off.

With the win, "Pacman" is officially the oldest boxer to win a world title in his division, a remarkable achievement that can only be cemented by his retirement. A 40-year-old Manny still has plenty of gas left, but for the benefit of the fighting senator, he needs to rest.

There is nothing more to prove; he will surely be cast as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. In his career, Manny has become the only 8 division champion in the world. He has beaten Mexican legends like Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, and Oscar De La Hoya, to name a few.

He has never backed down from a challenge, beating larger fighters like Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. In his 24-year career, Manny has proven that he can prosper against the odds, starting as a lanky featherweight contender, he was always up to the challenge.

But it's time to hang the gloves. Calls for Pacquiao's retirement started as early as 2012 when he was brutally knocked out by rival Juan Manuel Marquez. The same sentiments echoed when he was robbed of a victory against Jeff Horn in 2017.

The Filipino icon promised to fight next year, by then he will be turning 41; at that age, Manny is no longer at the height of his powers. In case you haven't heard, two recent deaths have shocked the boxing world this week, the risk of getting injured is not out of the window.

Against Thurman, "Pacman showed" his grit and determination. However, in the scattered moments through-out the championship bout, he looked more and more like a battle-worn veteran gasping out for air.

Winning did prove that he still has enough to push through. Ironically, history has shown that boxing greats that fight beyond their primes have suffered in their elder years. We don't want that to happen to Manny.

At this point, Asia's best boxer has a chance to retire in high esteem. He is given a rare opportunity to end his reign on a storybook ending that most fighters aren't offered in their lifetime. If he decides to end his storied boxing career, now would be a perfect time.

Boxing