Manny Pacquiao has been urged to retire if he can't secure a rematch with Floyd Mayweather.
The ring legend has beaten Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman this year to re-establish himself among the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
He is desperate to avenge his 2015 defeat by bitter rival Mayweather but the pair have yet to begin serious negotiations.
Mayweather claimed last week that he was planning to fight Pacquiao in an exhibition fight in Tokyo but the Filipino rubbished those suggestions.
And now Pacquiao's former promoter Bob Arum has said the 40-year-old should only fight on if he can face Mayweather.
"Pacquiao, I promoted him for many, many years. He’s an exceptionally good human being, really a fine guy, extraordinarily charitable and a delight," he told World Boxing News .
"But he's (almost) 41-years-old. And if you’re 41 you can’t take punishment. You can’t take blows like he did in the Thurman fight.
"Sure, he won that fight – but he took a lot of punishment. That punishment is going to have a serious effect on how he lives the rest of is life.
"If he gets Mayweather, do that fight and retire. If he doesn't get Mayweather he should retire. It's not worth it for him to continue boxing."
Mayweather has not fought since he stopped Conor McGregor in the 10th round two years ago.
That took his record to 50-0 and the American then retired from the sport but has constantly hinted at a return.
He said last week: "What I'm working on right now is the Mayweather-Pacquiao exhibition right here in Tokyo. Stay tuned."
But Pacquiao retorted: "Why an exhibition? Make it a real fight."
