Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao gave Eric Morales the worst beating of his career in a Fight of the Year candidate Saturday night. Morales, with his face resembling a bag of oranges, hit the canvas twice in the 10th round. The second knockdown spelled the first knockout of the Mexican warrior’s Hall of Fame career, as referee Kenny Bayless stopped the carnage at 2:33 of the round. Morales had struggled to beat the count after the first knockdown. It was Morales’ third loss in his last four fights.
14,618 screaming fans filled the Thomas and Mack Center with decibel level so high that you practically had to be a lip reader to hear Michael Buffer’s introductions.
Both fighters gave their rabid fans reason to cheer with some furious exchanges throughout the fight. After one such give and take, Pacquiao landed a big left in the second round that staggered Morales back across the ring to the ropes, seemingly supported by the top strand. But Morales was landing some good right hands early, and held his own with the heavy hitting Pacquiao in jaw dropping action for the first five rounds. Morales was ahead by a point on two judges cards and two on a third after five. However, in the final minute of round five, Pac’s left began to land with regularity, and it appeared to be the turning point of the fight. Pacquiao swept the sixth through the ninth on all cards, beginning with a strong sixth round when he straightened up Morales with a left, and another good left hurt Morales again. Pacquiao’s right was also beginning to land in that round. In the seventh, the two traded bombs, and Morales got in a couple of good rights before Manny seemed to get the best of the war of attrition.
Manny staggered Eric again in the eighth and got the best of tremendous back and forth action in the ninth, throwing power punches with everything in his being. Morales danced away the final seconds of the round to avoid further punishment. The steam was visibly missing from Morales’ shots in the final round. After the first knockdown from a huge left, Morales attempted to muster up one final charge before getting blasted with a two fisted flurry from Pacquiao to end the fight.
Morales was worn down in the fight from Pacquiao’s body attack and use of his right hand to complement the left. Being a warrior at heart, “El Terrible” went toe to toe with Pacquiao when things heated up, taking head shots throughout the fight. Late in the fight, he was simply gassed.
A clue might have come from the weigh-in. The Morales team was permitted a dry run on the scale prior to the official weigh-in. Morales, who had had trouble making weight in his lightweight fight with Zahir Raheem, pumped his fist triumphantly along with his team when they saw that he was at the super-featherweight limit of 130. The struggle to make weight, as well as the Pac-Man’s relentless attack surely contributed to his strength being sapped in the late going. Pacquiao outlanded Morales in power punches, 171-107.
After the fight, Bob Arum announced to reporters that Morales was taken to the hospital for a precautionary check up, but said that it “was nothing to be alarmed at.”
Arum said that he was saddened by Morales’ loss but, “If anyone had to beat and knock out Eric Morales, I’m glad it was a nice kid like Manny Pacquiao.”
Beaming like a proud Papa, Gary Shaw said, “ I think this was one of the best fights I ever saw. Two great warriors, that’s what boxing should be all about.”
Shaw also thanked Arum for the “great promotion and his treatment of Manny.”
Shaw added, “ I understand that Morales went to the hospital, and we pray that everything is going to be good.”
Pacquiao appeared at the press conference sporting a mouse under his right eye, and a smile that could achieve world peace.
Noting the hospitalization of his opponent, Pacquiao, speaking in English, praised Morales for his effort and “prayed that nothing would happen to him.”
Asked if the rematch clause would be invoked, Arum replied “That’s up to Eric. Look, I’m 74 years old; I’m not getting in the ring with that kid [Pacquiao].
Arum did say that “if Eric wants it” the fight could be held in July, allowing Morales some rest and recovery.
In non TV fights that were not in our previous report, Greg Proska improved to 5-0 with 4 KO’s when previously undefeated Gene Newton, 4-1 [1], was unable to come out for the fourth round in their middleweight fight.
Featherweight Jimex Jaca, 25-1 [11], knocked down Geronimo Hernandez twice in the first round, before referee Joe Cortez stopped it at 2:43 of the opening round.
Super-Bantamweight Sal Garcia, 13-3-2 [6], outpointed previously undefeated Carlos Valcarcel, 8-1 [4], in six rounds, 58-55, 60-53, and 59-54 in the opening bout on the card.
Arum said he was pleased with the televised card, “except for the first fight of the telecast, which sucked.”
Arum was referring to Jose Luis Zertuches’s 10 round shutout win over the hapless Marco Primera, a late substitute for the injured Kelly Pavlik, who did not endear himself to fans with his effort, or lack thereof.
