The sweet science has long been a sport of comebacks. From Sugar Ray Leonard’s triumphant return to George Foreman’s miraculous late-career resurgence, the ring has never been short of legendary reappearances. But not every comeback gets unanimous applause. The latest to spark fiery debate is the audacious return of Manny Pacquiao , boxing’s only eight-division world champion.

The Filipino legend is preparing for his 73rd bout at the age of 46. That in itself should be a matter of concern. Add to that he is returning to the ring after a four-year hiatus, and the whole affair becomes more disconcerting. Much to the dismay of many, the WBC, in its infinite wisdom, placed Manny Pacquiao fifth in its welterweight rankings as soon as the news of his return arrived, paving the way for PacMan

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