So it was revenge and not repeat when Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales resumed hostilities in Las Vegas over the weekend.
There were plenty (myself included) who fancied Morales to have too much ability, machismo and ring savvy for the Pac Man at the Thomas & Mack Arena, but just as he did against another Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera a few years ago, Pacquiao proved he truly belongs in what history will remember as a genuinely great featherweight/super-featherweight generation.
Much was expected of the pair going in, and they didn’t disappoint as they picked up the relentless pace of their first encounter almost immediately in front of a packed house.
The fight ebbed and flowed early on, and after a few rounds I was certain that Morales was beginning to take over.
However as the old saying goes the only certainties in this life are death and taxes, and sure enough Pacquiao roared back in the grand manner.
Again before the first bell there were many (myself included) who had Pacquiao down as something of a (albeit ferocious) one-trick pony, and so it came as something of a pleasant surprise to see the Filipino start mixing it up.
His jab was impressive and he scored freely with both mitts but for me it was his body punching that turned the fight irrevocably in his favour.
The bustling Pacquiao worked the Mexican’s ripped torso like an old steel drum and the rewards were almost instantaneous as ‘El Terrible’ began to slow tellingly.
Predictably a ring warlord like Morales would not yield without a fight and he put some tremendous combinations together in the middle rounds that kept the fans royally entertained.
Yet little Pacquiao would not be denied and from the seventh he began to up the ante as he threw his shots with increasing fervour.
The end when it came was hardly the most spectacular ever seen by Las Vegas standards, but you could not help but feel for fallen idol Morales as he lurched to the canvas and failed to beat the count.
It was shocking to see Morales be counted out for the first time in his pro career, but when you consider how long the road has been for him (13 years as a pro and 52 fights – with plenty of real wars) I suppose it was always going to happen.
So what of the future?
You can be sure Morales, rightly or wrongly, will now be regarded as over the hill/shot/damaged goods (delete as applicable) and there will be plenty who see Pacquiao as the second coming.
I’m not sure how true any of the above is, but I do know Pac Man’s win has to be good for business.
Pacquiao is such an exciting fighter and it’s fair to say he has some unfinished business with two more world class Mexicans.
Barrera has rebounded well since he was smashed to bits by the Filipino back in 2003, and I’ve no doubt he will be itching to set the record straight.
Juan Manuel Marquez, dropped three times in an explosive first round against Pacquiao in 2004 only to climb back to his feet and box his way to a draw (I thought he won by the way), will no doubt also throw his name into the hat.
And who is willing to discount Morales waiting for the wounds to heal before demanding Pacquiao settles their argument for a third and final time?
Whatever moves these incredible dogs of war decide to make next, there is no doubt that fight fans everywhere simply have to keep their eyes firmly fixed on the land of the little men over the next 12-18 months.
