Las Vegas, Nevada ? If there is a better fight in 2005 than the non-title 130 lb. clash that was seen in the ring Saturday night at the MGM Grand I?ll be shocked. Shocked because Erik Morales (48-2, 34 KO?s) and World featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao (39-3-2, 30 KO?s) delivered from bell to bell in a fight for the ages. Power punching and the two warriors passion was on full display en route to a clear Unanimous Decision victory for the Mexican icon. That being said, Pacquiao deserves every bit of the praise in defeat that Morales will receive in victory.
FIREWORKS FROM THE START IN HIGH OCTANE BRAWL!
In a scene reminiscent of Tito Trinidad?s comeback last October, the crowd rose and roared before the opening bell, and the fighters did not disappoint. Pacquiao hurt Morales towards the end of the first with a vicious body shot following a number of spirited exchanges. Morales was undeterred, as he emerged in the second with precision counter punching to even the affair and continued the trend with brilliant third and fourth round displays of the same. Morales escalated his attack in the fifth, visibly shaking the smaller man and opening a cut over his right eye that seemed to light a spark under Pacquiao who emerged to win the sixth round by a hair.
WAR ESCALATES FROM THE SEVENTH ROUND ON!
The even seventh round saw both fighters show flair with Pacquiao landing in high volumes of combinations only to struggle in the final minute as Morales landed bombs to the body and head. It was to little affect as Pacquiao woke up in the eighth, stunning Morales and winning his first clear round since the first. He kept the momentum in the ninth, hurting Morales again while maintaining unrelenting pressure but it appeared in the next two rounds as if that might be his final stand. In both the tenth and eleventh, Morales would rock Pacquiao and seal what seemed to be a clear decision. Inexplicably, Morales gambled his lead in the rousing final round, switching to a southpaw stance and trying to knock his man out?and we should all be grateful as it made for the best final round I?ve seen since the last Morales fight.
THE FUTURE IS LIMITLESS!
Where does each man go from here? It?s a great question and one without an easy answer. The fabulous featherweight foursome of Morales, Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez have now delivered six classic encounters; mix and match any of them and we get more fight of the year contenders. Pacquiao is still the champ at 126 and still the only man in history to have held that crown as well as the lineal flyweight crown; Morales is still the most reliable warrior alive and deserves mention with the greatest fighters ever in his weight range. I take my hat off to both these men.
HUSSEIN AND ARCE BOTH BRING THE WMD?S!
Reigning lineal World 108 lb. champion Jorge Arce (39-3-1, 28 KO?s) earned a shot at lineal and WBC flyweight king Pongsaklek Wongjongkam with a stirring, violent tenth round stoppage of the gutsy Hussein Hussein (26-2, 20 KO?s). It was the best fight of 2005 until the opening bell of Morales-Pacquiao. In the first round, it did not appear that such would be the case as Hussein looked out on his feet following a hook in the opening seconds but Hussein pulled himself together and toed the line.
THE CRIMSON WAS FLOWING FROM ARCE
As the rounds wore on, an extra layer of drama emerged after Hussein opened a gruesome gash on the bridge of Arce?s nose that threatened to see the fight stopped; that drama increased as Arce seemed to lose steam in the seventh and eighth rounds. Fortunes shifted again and for good in the ninth as Arce?s vast experience allowed him to seize control back en route to the fight?s end. Each man?s effort should earn them much more time on TV?HBO or Showtime should start by making sure we all see what is certain to be a classic between Wongjongkam and Arce.
CHAVEZ JR. SHINES LIKE A FUTURE STAR
With noisy chants of ?Chavez? filling out the arena, one could almost see the fistic ghost of Julio Cesar Chavez in the ring with his junior namesake. Showing that body work and vicious hooks run in the family, Junior went to 17-0 with 12 stops, brutalizing the hopeless Ryan Maraldo (17-15-1, 5 KO?s) en route to a third round stoppage. The fight served its purpose, showcasing a 5?11 lightweight whose slow progress mirrors the slow ascent of his father and gave the public a look at a fighter who appears to be worth watching.
REF SHOULD BE REPRIMANDED, NO ARRESTED!
All that said, referee Tony Gibson allowed a horrendous beating to go on far too long. It was clear halfway through the second round and almost every second of the third that Maraldo?s bravery was a danger to him. Gibson, and Maraldo?s corner, owed that kid better than to let him take about forty flush shots he shouldn?t have.
CASTILLO-MOREL SHOW SCIENCE OF PUERTO RICO VS. MEXICO
In a battle between two of the sport?s better all around fighters, WBA 115-lb. titlist Martin Castillo (28-1-1, 16 KO?s) used exceptional body work and hard right hands to outwork former flyweight king Eric Morel (35-2, 18 KO?s) for a wide Unanimous Decision win. While dull in spots, each man showed fine technical skill even as Castillo kept the fight firmly under his control. It was a defining moment for Castillo. Following on the heels of his excellent title victory over Alexander Munoz, Castillo moves a step closer to recognition as one of the elite in all of Boxing. Make no mistake; Morel was a world class foe. Castillo?s dominance was a statement of greatness yet to come and a showdown three pounds north against bantamweight king Rafael Marquez should be a must!
?24-KARAT? NOTEBOOK?
Two fights of note on Friday: ESPN 2 featured rumored Mike Tyson foe Kevin McBride (32-4, 27 KO?s) defeating Kevin Montiy (15-3-1, 12 KO?s) by fifth round stoppage and Telefutura gave us junior welterweight Juan Carlos Rubio (31-7-3, 11 KO?s) revitalizing his career with a Split Decision win over Mike Stewart (37-4-2, 21 KO?s)?The biggest women?s fight of the 1990?s is coming a bit late but I?ll take it. Circle July 9th for Christy Martin-Lucia Rijker?Former iron-chinned heavyweight contender, the 43 years old Ray Mercer, was stopped in mixed martial arts action in just 22 seconds by a kick to the head. Wonder if Tommy Morrison wishes he?d had such an option when he fought Mercer???What the hell was Morel-Castillo doing as the opening bout of the Saturday PPV under the Chavez Jr. fight? Nothing against the kid (I think he looks like a solid prospect), but fighting set-ups should be treated as such.
PEDRO SAW THE FIGHT THE OTHER WAY!
Read the way Pedro Fernandez assigned a panel of five Judges to score the Erik Morales-Manny Pacquiao. He wrote a piece on why two people can look at something and see things entirely different. Hit this link http://www.ringtalk.com/news/view_article.asp?id=211&cat=4
PEDRO UNDERCOVER IN LAS VEGAS?
Read why Pedro kept such a low profile this weekend in Las Vegas.
http://www.ringtalk.com/news/view_article.asp?id=210&cat=4
