BACOLOD City — Yes, he is still the topic and will continue to be up to the time he fights Erik Morales. Or even beyond that, win or lose.
In the lobby of the Kundutel Hotel at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex here where sports journalists and golfers are billeted for the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Golf Tournament, discussions are centered on two things: golf and Pacquiao.
Over breakfast or dinner, the power-punching man from Gen. Santos City is the most talked-about after golf. That’s understandable, Pacquiao, after all, is a national treasure. He is news. Whatever he does is news.
I had the chance to talk to veteran sports chronicler Al Mendoza over breakfast Saturday and our discussion, of course, centered on sports, particularly Pacquiao.
Mendoza, columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, believes the Pacman will emerge victorious in his super featherweight bout with Morales on March 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
According to him, there’s no way Pacquiao is going to lose this fight if he is in superb physical condition come fight night.
And if his punches hit their target, Mendoza swears, Morales will kiss the canvas.
“I tell you Charles, it’s a matter of conditioning. If Pacquiao is in tip-top shape it’s going to be very difficult for Morales to beat him. And when his (Pacquiao) punches land, Morales will go down,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza recalled the night when Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier for the heavyweight championship in the classic Thrilla in Manila back in 1975.
He said both fighters were in tip-top shape when they waged that epic war, otherwise “the bout would not have reached the 14th round.”
Then he cited the Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera clash in 2003.
Mendoza said Barrera was in superb condition when he climbed the ring against the Filipino warrior, contrary to what the Mexican had been claiming.
I agree with him. With all the power shots that Barrera absorbed since the second round of that fight, Pacquiao could have finished him off much, much earlier.
And Barrera wants us to believe him? Baloney.
