To virtually everyone involved in the sport of boxing, missing Saturday’s fight between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Mexican warrior Erik Morales, would be tantamount to a major crime.
Rarely in the sport do such high levels of skill combine with the huge potential for explosive action. Physically, stylistically and mentally, the match up is perfect for practically every type of fight fan.
Both fighters are fast and carry knockout power in each hand. Both like to exchange leather, and their warrior-like mentalities mean that neither fighter is likely to back off. These basic factors alone make for a electrifying night of world class boxing.
However, upon closer inspection of the intricate stylistic and mental differences between the two, the fight becomes even more intriguing. Morales is tall, rangy and superbly balanced. He is also a highly skilled boxer with knock out power in both hands. Pacquiao is shorter, faster and carries a more potent punch. He is also a southpaw that throws unorthodox combinations at lightening speed.
The two fighters also like to operate at different paces and at different distances. Morales likes to move forward and spear with his jab, forcing his opponents to fight on the back foot while picking them off at range. He is also able to shift his balance mid combination remarkably well, enabling him to throw devastating punches on the inside with great accuracy and power. He is at his best when he is able to work from range, and time his combinations to offset his opponents attack.
Pacquiao on the other hand, tends to spring in and out of fighting range at enormous speed. He does so at such a fast pace that it is extremely difficult to counter him. He dismantled Marco Antonio Barrera back in 2003 by effectively nullifying Barrera’s much vaunted (and newly acquired) counter-punching. The Mexican simply could not get his punches off fast enough. Pacquiao would attack, dart out, then attack again at such a pace that Barrera could not find him. His straight left is his money punch, and is possibly the hardest in his division. The Manila native relies on this highly effective combination of attributes to confuse and overwhelm his opponents.
At such high level of competition, an effective game plan and strategy are the deciding factors in who wins and loses.
For ‘El Terrible’ to win, he must box an intelligent fight, and not get caught in exchanges. He must use the ring and keep the fight at a distance, sticking his jab to slow the Filipino fighter down. If he can read the lines of attack (which Marquez did so successfully against Pacquiao last year), Morales stands a good chance of neutralising the Filipino’s punching arsenal and controlling the fight.
For Pacquiao to win, he must basically attempt to stop Morales from doing the things he likes. The key is to utilise his speed, which will confuse Morales. He must move forwards and force Morales to fight on the back foot. He should also employ lateral movement to avoid being one-dimensional, allowing him to effectively work his way behind Morale’s longer reach. The Tijuana fighter has an educated jab that he will attempt to use to offset Pacquaio’s attacks, so employing good all-round movement is a must. If Morales exchanges (which he is prone to do), he will lose as the ‘Pac Man’ is too fast and punches too hard. Therefore, Pacquiao must try to force the fight and draw Morales into a slugging contest.
Picking the winner is extremely difficult as both fighters are so skilled, but there are a few factors worth considering. Firstly, motivation going into the fight should play a big role. That Morales took the fight against Pacquiao after his less than impressive performance against Barrera is indication of his desire to regain his lost prestige. He looked slow against his fellow countryman, and had clearly not prepared for an on-form Barrera. Morales has made no excuses about his performance, and acknowledges the mistakes made in the fight. We can be assured that he will leave nothing to chance when facing a more dangerous opponent in Manny Pacquiao.
Having seen the ‘Pac Man’ in sparring, it would be fair to say that the Filipino fighter has improved in terms of his general boxing ability. He displayed a greater arsenal of punches and better defensive manoeuvring than he has shown in recent fights. He is up for the fight, and by all accounts has prepared well.
However, an on-form, fully prepared Erik Morales is certainly no joke in the boxing ring. If he limits his exchanges with Pacquiao, sticks to his game plan and utilises his full array of skills, the Mexican legend can most definitely pull off the upset. The first few rounds will be the most explosive, with the Filipino pressing the action and scoring some big blows. As Morales gains his feet, his timing and distance will improve and he should begin to take over just before the mid rounds. Pacquiao has enough tricks to keep the fight interesting, and will land the occasional bomb as the rounds go on, but consistent jabbing and clever work on the inside should mean a decision for the more polished and hungrier ‘El Terrible’.
