The announcement of Errol Spence defending his WBC and IBF welterweight titles against former eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao filled the boxing community with excitement. A true 'dream fight' between one of today's elite and one of the best ever, with a potential passing-of-the-torch element should the American emerge victorious.
However, what are the chances that 'Pac-Man', in what could be his final fight before moving into politics full-time in his native Philippines, keeps a stubborn hold on that torch and goes out in a blaze of glory?
On the latest episode of 'Jabs' on The DAZN Boxing Show, Chris Mannix and former WBC light-middleweight champion Sergio Mora discussed that very scenario.
“When it comes to 'The Curious Case of Manny Pacquiao' and the living legend that never seems to die, yes, I'm always giving him a chance," said Mora, "because I'm tired of losing money. I'm tired of betting against them.
"But this this time, Mannix, against Errol Spence, I'm going to say no.
"It's time that Father Time catches up to Manny Pacquiao. And Manny is going to get stopped by the bigger, stronger southpaw. And we all know that legs fade away with age so all that combined.
"I think it's time for Manny Pacquiao to exit the grand stage. He's been on it for two decades now. Two decades, 71 pro fights and 11 divisions.
"This man is a legend — but legends die hard.”
Mannix then added: "I give Pac credit for turning back the clock as he has over the last few years, beating Adrian Broner, beating Keith Thurman, but at 42 years old, this is way, way, way too much to bite off.
"If you're Manny Pacquiao, Errol Spence isn't just one of the best welterweights in the world. He has a strong case to be called the best welterweight in the world. At least the one with the best resume.
"He has beaten Shawn Porter, he has beaten Danny Garcia, he has beaten Mikey Garcia, he has beaten virtually all of the top 147 pounders. And this fight feels to me like it's all wrong for Pacquiao.
"If he gets overly aggressive, Spence — who is a good counter puncher — will catch him with something big. If he tries to box Spence, the bigger, taller, longer fighter has already proved he can box going the distance with the likes of Garcia, Porter and Danny Garcia most recently, so I just don't see a pathway for Pacquiao to win.
"More importantly, Sergio, this is a fight that could have happened at any time. Over the last few years, Spence was always a possibility. Just like Terence Crawford has been a possibility to me, this feels like Manny Pacquiao cashing out at the end of his career, getting one more big payday and hope it doesn't come with the cost of his physical well being.“
This prompted Mora to respond: “It is going to come at the cost of his physical well being because that's just how boxing works.
"It's going to be a painful lesson there. And it's a shame but like I said, man, this is what happens to legends.
"If you go back in time, I mean every legend cashes out on their name. I mean, we they work so hard at becoming great at becoming champions that they cash out in the end because they listen man, this is what we're in. It's a bloodsport, and we want that blood money but it's at our cost.”