For Jones, the moment happened when he beat Antonio Tarver in 2003, although he did not realize it until years later. That is when he went to give an inspirational speech to business executives. As he talked about the importance of setting goals, it clicked. “When was the last time I ever set a goal in boxing?” Jones wondered.

Jones had fought 14 times since that first Tarver bout. He lost seven of those fights.

“Every boxer needs a purpose,” he said.

Among the pictures on the walls of Wild Card is one of Pacquiao in the immediate aftermath of his Cotto fight. Cotto’s blood streamed down his shoulder and covered his torso. In the background, the referee held both arms around Cotto, his face mangled and swollen, his trunks stained red. Pacquiao had both fists raised in victory, but his face was twisted into a grimace. As if it hurt to hurt someone else that badly.

There have been many Pacquiao incarnations since. He turned away from gambling and drinking and extramarital affairs, turned toward God and family and a political career. He said he became a more scientific fighter. He broke an orbital bone in Antonio Margarito’s face, but even in that fight, he backed off when a knockout loomed, same as against Mosley, same as in his last bout, against Timothy Bradley. Pacquiao lost that fight in a curious decision on the scorecards. Arum believed Pacquiao won, but said the way he let up late was “inexcusable.”

Asked if he preferred the aggressive style that once defined his rise to fighter of the decade, Pacquiao said: “It’s more fun for the fans. But it’s not easy for me, to always be on the attack.”