IT IS validation and redemption time once more this Sunday morning when our very own boxing idol Manny Pacquiao climbs the ring to face Mexican ring warrior Erik Morales for the third, and perhaps final time.
The two square ring gladiators are slated to face each other for 12 rounds at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino with the winner assured of his place at the pantheon of boxing greats — as if they are not already. Both own a win over each other.
Morales taught Pacquiao a boxing lesson when they first met in March last year en route to a hard fought, action-packed and bloody 12-round unanimous decision win.
Pacquiao did his vengeance in January this year stopping Morales in 10 exciting rounds.
In so doing, Pacquiao became the first man to stop Morales — a feat described by boxing aficionados as spectacular considering that Morales is sure headed to boxing’s Hall of Fame.
Pressure is on Manny to do a repeat performance of his sensational stoppage of Morales who has been having problems with keeping the super featherweight limit.
He is likewise press-ganged to win as more lucrative fights are being lined up for him, including a long-awaited rematch with knockout victim Marco Antonio Barrera, the reigning World Boxing Council super featherweight champion.
On top of that, some 85 million Filipinos expect Manny to win.
The weight of such pressures could take its toll on Manny. But he is no stranger at delivering under such circumstances.
Morales, on the other hand, is out to prove that at 30 years old he is not a spent force in boxing.
A true Mexican warrior, Morales wants to end his boxing career with an emphatic win against the only man who dealt him a knockout loss.
So on Sunday, two of the world’s best pound-for-pound boxers will touch gloves before the start of the first round.
That would only be the time they will be civil with each other. After that, it is slam bang!
Who got the edge?
Manny will enter the ring a prohibitive favorite by virtue of his stunning win over Morales.
Las Vegas odds placed him a 210-100 favorite. In local cockfight parlance — more than doblado!
He has blossomed into a natural super featherweight and has added a few arsenals to his vaunted powerful lighting-quick left straight. His stamina is also one of Manny’s best assets. He could punch non-stop the whole twelve rounds without losing his power.
According to reports, he has developed a potent right hook that could neutralize Erik’s long jabs.
For the first time, Manny trained for over two months for this Sunday’s big event.
Erik meanwhile is a hungry fighter.
In am unprecedented move, Morales enrolled himself to a weight-loss training regimen under Velocity Sports. He also rehired his trainer-father and has gone back to the Otomi mountains of Mexico for training.
Erik has lodged more championship rounds than Manny and that could be a plus or a liability depending on whose opinion you want to hear.
He also has definite edge in reach and height.
Strategy
Morales could spring several surprises come fight night.
He could alternately box using his long jabs and mix it up when Manny is caught off balance.
The Mexican badly needed a win and could do a Barrera.
Barrera outboxed and outwit Rocky Jaurez in a boring fight that was marred by too much clinching and dancing around.
Morales certainly has the skills to do so, especially with his longer reach.
But the Mexican in him could also mean Morales would go for an early kill considering that his stamina is still suspect despite his “Velocity training.”
If Morales could not put Pacquiao to the canvass in the early rounds, he will surely dance away to a twelve-round decision win.
Lawyer Franklin Gacal Jr., Filipino counsel to Manny, said Team Pacquiao would press for an early knockout and apply pressure on Morales throughout the fight.
“Mahirap na Las Vegas ito (It’s Las Vegas, we will never know), he said.
Pacquiao will also make full use of his psychological advantage over Morales.
Having knocked out the Mexican the last time around, Manny will seek to deliver his strong message in the early rounds.
He is going to lay the trap on Morales to fight in close quarters and attacked the body to weaken his opponent’s jab and take way the Mexican’s lateral movement.
How well both fighters adjust their fight plan could spell the difference between victory and defeat.
