THE ?WEAK? FIGHT SPOKE FOR ITSELF
San Francisco, CA-There is no other to break down the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera that has not already been written or said. Granted, Barrera did not have the will to win, but Pacquiao did not feel incline to stop him or take unnecessary chances (something he?s known for). With that said, it was nice for Pacquiao to win a big fight without sustaining too much damage that can curtail his career. To survive at 135 lbs, Manny must be able to box and not get hit clean with too many punches. Pacquiao was once criticized for having a style that would end his career way too quickly. For at least this fight, Pacquiao placed his ?fight to the death? card in his back pocket for future use.
DON?T BE FOOLED BY YOUR PERFORMANCE PAC!
A draw back to the dominating win over Barrera could be a possible perception in Pacquiao?s mind that he can continue to make short cuts in training camp every fight out. It may have worked against a fighter he knocked out four years ago and was clearly fearful of the punching power, but you cannot rely on that type of preparation in future fights. Pacquiao has become more lose and relaxed in ring as his big fight experiences has calmed his nerves and therefore he is using the right hand more, head movement, and using angles in the ring. He would always do that in training, but when it came to fights it was always the straight left. It seems like, defensively, the game has slowed down for Pacquiao. That could just be a lack of a tough fight since the second Erik Morales fight.
ENFORCER GETS YET ANOTHER ?A?
A common issue during the Pacquiao?s fight weeks was his hotel room situation. The climax occurred back in 2005, where Pacquiao?s mini-suite at the MGM Grand was crowded with fans Friday and Saturday before his bout with Morales. Since then, Rob Peters has had the task of keeping order especially when it comes to fans walking in and out of the hotel room. Understanding that Pacquiao?s availability to fans is a reason for his huge popularity in the Philippines, Peters plays the role of the good cop and bad cop. ?When it?s time to lock up the room, I have no mercy, even if they waited for a long time,? Peters explained. ?But, when the time is appropriate, I?ll offer them a drink and get everything they need signed.? It was business as usual for Peters in this fight as there were no complaints about over zealous fans camping around Pacquiao?s hotel room.
FILIPINO-MEXICAN RIVALRY TURNS PHYSICAL
A combination of patriotism, alcohol, group power, and gambling, led to many brawls or potential brawls throughout every section of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center during the Pacquiao fight. One person tripped down the aisle when shoved by another person. It was definitely a more heated crowd then usual Pacquiao fights. Things got more out of hand in the stands after Barrera hit and hurt Pacquiao on the break in the 11th round. Maybe it was the fact that Barrera ran for most of the fight or that Pacquiao could not finish him as to why the fans seemed easily irritable during the bout. It even spilled into the fighters, as Salven Lagumbay reported at Philboxing, that Jorge Arce and Gerry Penalosa almost got into it, this after Filipino fans irked Arce. A Penalosa-Arce match would definitely ignite more passion from both sides, as both fighters are very popular in their home countries.
SOME QUICK JABS
The After Party took place at Planet Hollywood, where Pacquiao celebrated with friends and fans?with the exception of myself who was had a 6 am flight that Sunday morning?NOTE TO NIKE You need to start selling Pacquiao merchandise in the United States or at least make them available online. I don?t how many offers I received to purchase a Team Pacquiao Nike jacket?Gerry Penalosa may have a tune up bout on December 6th at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas before a planned title bout in Manila against Daniel Ponce De Leon? Can some please tell Jim ?Barrera? Lampley, that Marco?s ?first round knockdown? was not legit, as Pacquiao tripped over Barrera?s foot? Lampley did call the action and could have simply forgotten. Yet, he mentions that every time Barrera has fought in the past couple of years, using it in the context of a legitimate knockdown.
