Boxing still has an exciting place in our ever-changing modern society. This was spelt out with a fight that took place last weekend in Las Vegas – Erik Morales v Manny Pacquiao lifted ones spirits with the courage, guts, determination on display.
And, to think there was not even a title at stake in this super-featherweight title fight, only the pride of this warrior duo.
No surprise after this epic war, that there is already talk of a September Pacquiao-Morales rematch.
However, doctors have recommended that Manny Pacquiao first undergo plastic surgery to repair the gash he suffered above his right eye.
It was a confrontation that between two warriors that brought back memories of the golden period era of boxing in the 1980s which featured ring greats such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.
When these ring legends went to war, all the prefight hype was lived up to and fans were never disappointed, they just wanted more and more of this quality.
As we know, these days there are a lack of quality fighters in the world, and a lot of the hyped fights are more often than not damp squibs.
Well, Morales and Pacquiao have restored my faith in the sport and getting up at 4am on a Sunday morning will now always be a pleasure when they don the gloves.
Here is a analysis of this great fight with the help of http://www.fightnews.com.
The fight featured sizzling exchanges in every round, but the fight was controlled by the bigger, more experienced Morales, who used his jab to neutralise Pac Man’s advances.
It was an amazing display of boxing skill considering the jab from an orthodox fighter is not usually an effective punch v. a southpaw – especially one as skilled as Pacquiao.
Morales, with a the heart of a lion and a chin of granite, is that talented a “fighter”- not just a crowd-pleasing brawler-although he can do that when needed.
Pacquiao came out fast, throwing 83 total punches and landing 18 of 43 (42%) power shots, hurting Morales to the body midway through the round. Pac Man won the round on all three cards. Morales began to find the range with his jab in the second and proceeded to outland Pacquiao 16-9 in total punches – winning the second frame on all three cards.
Pacquiao had a 19-12 edge in round three – enough to win that round – although Morales did land 11 of 33 jabs.
Morales outlanded Pacquiao 120-82 over the next five rounds, winning four of those five on the judges cards. The edge was bolstered by Morales’s ability to consistently land his jab – which not only scored points, but blunted Pac Man’s attack.
With blood streaming down his face from a badly-cut right eye, Pac Man rallied to win round nine – outlanding Morales 22-15, including 17-11 in power shots, He now trailed by just one point on all three cards with three rounds remaining.
Morales had a big round 10 – landing 29 total punches (his high total for the fight) to 16 for Pac Man. Morales swept the round on the cards.
Round 11 was closer, as Pacquiao was busier, throwing 87 total punches. Morales had a slim 20-19 edge in connects and won the round-pulling ahead by three points on all cards.
Pacquiao, sensing he needed a knockout to win the fight (he was right), came out blazing in the 12th.
Morales, who in his words, after the fight, wanted to “add some flavour” to his performance, inexplicably turned southpaw-not only was Morales daring Pacquiao to take his best shot, but he was also telling Pac Man he was going to close out the show by not by protecting his lead, but by beating him at his own game.
It was a tremendous give and take rounds that left Morales legs like jelly – more from fatigue than from Pac Man’s punches, although Manny did land 31 of 99 attempts to 25 of 69 for Morales.
Pacquiao won the 12th on all the cards.
However, this was not enough as we all know now that all three judges voted 115-113 Morales.
The final stats showed Morales landing 265 of 714 (37%) total punches to 217 of 894 (24%) for Pacquiao, who had a 183-169 edge in power connects (non-jabs), throwing 545 to 411 for Morales.
Morales did land 41% of his power shots, rocking Pacquiao on several occasions. Morales’s jab, the difference in the fight, landed 96 of 303 times (32%) to 34 of 349 (10%) for Pacquiao.
Once again, Morales, nearly a 2-1 underdog in some books, proved why he may be the top pound-for-pound fighter in the business today – he’s never in a bad fight and gives all he has every time he laces up the gloves. This also applies to Pacquiao.
Oh, yes the gloves also played a role – this will bring a smile to the Voice of Boxing – Bert Blewett, who recently in his regular column for sister newspaper, the Sunday Tribune, wrote about the issue of gloves becoming a big factor once again in the world of pugilism. Sadly, Pacquiao and his trainer Freddy Roach blamed the use of the Japanese-manufactured “Winning” gloves as partly to blame for this loss to Morales.
They preferred Mexican-manufactured “Reyes” gloves – more of a puncher’s glove. However, Pacquiao’s promoter Murad Muhammad, who has been at odds with Roach over other issues as well, signed the contract for the fight that stipulated the use of the “Winning” gloves.
Talk about a winning touch! – Morales and Top Rank take a bow.
Licensees and prospective licensees of Boxing South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal are reminded that all licenses expire on the 31st March and must be re-newed before the 30th April 2005.
The procedure by boxers is as follows: 1 Visit your private doctor and request him to send you (the boxer) for the following blood tests: a) HIV; b) Hepititis B surface antigen 2 When the blood test results have been returned to your docter collect the results from him and, if both results are negative, bring the results to the office of Boxing South Africa in KZN together with a completed medical examination form (Form F1) which is available from this office.
3 An application form (Form A1) will then be filled in and the relevant license fee must be paid. (R114) 4 Boxers who did not licence themselves in 2004 must provide this office with two colour passport size photo’s as well as a copy of their I/D books.
The procedure to be followed by all other licence categories is as follows: 1 Call at the office of the BSA representative and complete the relavent application form (Form A1) and pay the appropriate licence fee.
2 Persons who did not licence themselves in 2004 must provide the Boxing SA representative with two colour passport size photo’s as well as a copy of their I/D books.
Please note the following licence fees per licence type:
Announcers – R300-00 plus VAT R342 Managers / Trainers – R500 00 plus VAT R570 Matchmakers – R300 plus VAT R342 Seconds R200 plus VAT R228 Promoters A – Promoting International R5 000 plus VAT R5 700; B – Promoting National R3 000 plus VAT R3 420; C Promoting Development R2 000 plus VAT R2 280 Please note that category A promoters above can also stage national and developmental tournaments whilst category B promoters can also stage development tournaments but not international fights. Category C promoters can only stage development tournaments which can include provincial title fights.
My good friends at the ever growing South African Veteran Boxers Association will be holding their next monthly meeting next Thursday, March 31 at the Stella Sports Club, Davenport Road at 7pm for 7.30pm. Fred Forge is the guest speaker while a roast, boxing books and video will be up for grabs for R2.
Gary Gordon’s very popular Veteran Boxing Beat will also be available at R5. Bill Ingle, the chairman, can be contacted on 082 4469 804 or secretary Eric Moolman on 031 7082 777.
