Local boxing experts yesterday predicted victory by Manny Pacquiao when he slugs it out with Erik Morales of Mexico over 12 rounds tomorrow at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Games and Amusement Board Commissioner Alex Paglumotan, who graced the SCOOP weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura, said the 27-year-old Pacquiao will win before the eighth round to avenge his loss to the Mexican last year.
” Manny is gonna make it before the eighth round either by knockout or technical knockout,” Paglumotan said.
Also present in the public service forum sponsored by ACCEL were Laura Elorde, widow of former world junior lightweight champion Gabriel ”Flash” Elorde, their son, Bebot and former world super bantamweight kingpin Gerry Penalosa. Ms. Elorde echoed Paglumotan’s optimism.
”Mula ng mamatay si Bay (Flash), huminto na ako sa panonood ng boksing kasi, hanggang ngayon kapag nakikita kong tinatamaan ang boksingero, parang si Bay ang tinatamaan, kaya nasasaktan ako. Sa laban ni Manny, gusto ko manalo siya para maging masaya ang mga kababayan natin at malimutan ang paghihirap na dinaranas nila,” said the 77-year old Laura said.
Bebot, a well-known boxing promoter-manager, said that based on what he has been reading in the newspapers, there’s no way Pacquiao can lose.
Penalosa, on the other hand, said whoever is hungrier between Pacquiao and Morales will win the fight.
”Bilang boksingero, si Manny at Morales ay tiyak na gagawin lahat para manalo. Si Morales, mas may eksperiyensa at mautak. Si Manny naman mas malakas at matibay. Kung sino ang mas gutom at tingin ko si Manny, siya ang mananalo,” Penalosa assessed.
Jude Torcuato, vice president for marketing of Solar, the fight’s carrying channel, announced that Sunday’s coverage will be fast, allaying fears that the fight would be shown not later than 4 p.m.
