Before Pacquiao steps into the ring this Saturday night against David Diaz, we take a look at another great battle between Manny Pacquiao and one of Mexico’s most beloved champions – Erik Morales.
With Manny Pacquiao scheduled for his PPV battle for the WBC lightweight title against champion, I have decided to take a look back at one of Manny’s greatest victories to date. It was on January 21st, 2006 in Las Vegas as it was a rematch to classic first encounter which saw Eric Morales take a unanimous decision over Manny in a highly enjoyable battle. Like all great fights, there is the no brainer rematch as Manny looks to regain his elite status while Morales looks to stay on top. Here is my round by round recap and match rating.
January 21st 2006 Aired on HBO Your hosts are Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, and Emanuel Steward
Eric Morales (48-4) vs. Manny Pacquiao (40-3-2, 32 KOs)
Round 1 – Both men are testing the waters in the first minute. Pacman lands a few good jabs midway through the round. Pacquiao is looking sharp and crisp with his jabs and short left shots. Morales looks to be sizing up Manny. Morales hurts Pacquiao against the ropes. Pacman looks to be OK after the little flurry and comes back with the hook. They end the round in a flurry and we have ourselves a fight! Morales had the harder shots but Pacquiao was way more active! Pacquiao 10-9 Round 2 – Morales lands a hard right to start the round. Double left hand from Pacquiao. Good left to the chin from Pacquiao. They continue to trade in the middle of the ring. Pacman lands a hard left to back Morales up and lands another hard left to the ropes. Morales landed counter as Pacquiao attacked, then Pacquiao opened up again. Morales shows the true Mexican warrior side as he is taking some hard left shots to the face. Pacman lands a left that almost knocks Morales down with the ropes supporting him. Morales fights back but it looks to be more out of desperation. Manny wins it 10-9 Pacquiao Fight is even 19-19
Round 3 – Pac lands a hard right but Morales responds with some right shots of his own, Pacquiao is still throwing that left hand with ease. The two men exchange hard combination before Morales begins utilizing his long jab.Pacman responds with two punch combo but throws the harder right shots and looks to have the advantage in the round. They go toe to toe at end but Morales takes his first round. 10-9 Morales
Round 4 – Nothing going on for the first 40 seconds as the pro Morales crowd chants ” Mexico!” Pacman attacks with some quick combos but Morales throws a counter left to back up Pacquiao’s early flurry. After a few lefts from Manny, Morales responds with a hard one two combo. Morales’ heavy jab and straight right hands land more clean than Pacquiao’s combinations. This is the best round of the fight for Morales as the quick left jab has become his new weapon. 10-9 Morales
Round 6 – Pacman is coming with fire with some sick power lefts to the face.Pacquiao finds his way through with a right hook and throws a furious flurry that has Morales covering up. Morales looks to be a little stunned as Manny has not let up one for one second. It looks like Morales nose has been broken in this round as Manny is really punishing! Oh my god, it’s criminal to see what Morales is going through as he is taking a raping. What the hell happened to Morales? He fights back a little but a huge assault with Morales against the ropes has the Mexican staggered at the bell. What a round for Manny!!!
10-9 Pacquiao Round 7 – Morales starts off with a quick left jab and a left from Morales knocks Pacquiao backward into the ropes and now it is Morales’ turn to attack!! This is what boxing is all about! What guts and determination by Morales to try to get this done. Pacquiao responds with fast combinations to the chin. Morales is beginning to look tired as Pacquiao bulled to him to the ropes. Morales is throwing the slower shots now while looks to throw the quicker and more effective punches. Morales seems to have no legs left as Pacquiao has gained the momentum back in a big way!
Pacquaio 10-9 Round 8 – What heart from Morales! I can’t believe he is still throwing punches after what he has gone through. He is going on pure guts right now. Solid jab from Morales, and straight right hands, but Pacquiao counters with two combinations. Pacquiao backs Morales to the ropes and lands clean shots to the chin, and Morales responds with powerful blows to the head that knocks back Pacquiao. The fans are going nuts!! Last 20 seconds see’s all this action but Manny ends the round with a little flurry which is enough to win the round!
10-9 Pacquiao Round 9 – There is basically nothing going on for the first half of the round. Morales legs are gone as his trainers have been massaging his legs in between rounds which is never a good sign. Morales lands a few right shots but Manny responds back with a flurry of his own! Big left from Pacquiao. Nice uppercut from Morales. The two men traded punches furiously as they are literally going toe to toe!! Manny is starting to go the body as the fatigue is obvious to all in Morales’s body. Morales is going on all heart! Pacquiao lands a hard left that knocks Morales to the ropes and Morales dances away at round’s end as the Filipino contingent boos. Another round for Manny as he is taken control of this fight!
10-9 Manny Round 10 – Morales goes back to the left jab and looks back in control a little in the middle of the ring! but with the body all gone, Morales can’t keep away from Manny’s body blows. Morales catches Pacquiao with a counter as he comes forward, but Pacquiao resumed the attack to body and head and put Morales down for the first time in his career as it more his legs giving out than the actual punch which landed right above the ear. Morales rose, but Pacquiao attacked again and dropped Morales against the ropes. Referee Kenny Bayless waves it off at 2:33, and Pacquiao wins by TKO!!!
