Manny Pacquiao, 40, risks brain damage if he doesn’t retire, warns top promoter Bob Arum

MANNY PACQUIAO has been warned that he risks brain damage if he doesn’t hang up his gloves, by his former promoter Bob Arum.

Pacquiao, 40, a former champion in eight different divisions is one of the greatest fighters boxing has ever seen.

However, whereas the likes of Floyd Mayweather have retired from the ring, the Filipino is showing no signs of slowing down.

Arum, who promoted Muhammad Ali during the Sixties and Seventies, says Pacquiao doesn’t possess the same hand speed he had when he was in his prime and he could get hurt if he continues fighting.

Pacquiao takaes on WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman in Las Vegas next month.

Thurman is unbeaten in 30 fights and 10 years younger than his Filipino opponent.

Arum told Fight Hub TV: “You’ve got to realise that he’s 41 years of age [sic 40], and when a fighter who’s been around so long is … passes his late 30s and goes into his 40s, he is not going to be as good as he was in his prime.

“I hope he wins the fight but I am concerned, as I would be for any fighter, that when they get to a certain age that they probably shouldn’t be fighting anymore.

“Doctors will tell you that the cranium as you get older, thins out.

“So a guy who’s younger gets hit and the cranium absorbs the blow so that it doesn’t affect the brain matter.

“When they get older the cranium is thinner, and when you get hit it affects … that would be the worst thing in the world if Manny Pacquiao suffered brain damage at this point.”

More interestingly, it remains to be seen whether Pacquiao will resume hostilities with Mayweather once again.

The first episode of their clash was one of the most eagerly anticipated sports events in history and the American won by a unanimous decision.

And Mayweather who left the ring with an undefeated 51-0 record could have a rematch, although nothing has been confirmed yet.