All of the greatest boxers may have tried to beat this adversary, and all of them just failed. This mighty opponent? Time. With it, legends descend to planet Earth and perform like ordinary fighters. They eventually fade to the sunset. In his youth, Sugar Ray Robinson lost only once in his first 132 fights. After competing for 11 years at age 30, he lost 18 of his succeeding 68 matches.

Roberto Duran lost only once in his first 73 fights. But starting at age 29, he lost 15 of his next 46 bouts. And at age 43, he lost 7 of his final 18 fights. Julio Cesar Chavez was undefeated in is first 90 fights. But after he turned 32 and being active for the last 14 years, he lost 6 of his next 25 fights.

Oscar De La Hoya never lost until his 32nd fight, at age 26. From age 30 onwards, he lost 4 of his next 7 bouts. The examples can go on and on. But the story line ends the same: nobody beats time. Manny Pacquiao is turning 31 soon, and the legends like him have shown wear and tear at this point of their respective careers.

He has shown none of it though in his last couple of fights. But sooner or later something will have to give. Age, for one, has stopped all of them. It can stop the Pacman too. But as to when it is bound to happen, only time can tell.