BEING focused in his upcoming game led to Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao’s victory against Mexican pug Erik “El Terible” Morales.
This was the opinion of the majority of sports leaders in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.
They added that being well-prepared for the match also contributed to Pacquiao’s smashing reign in their rematch at Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Former Bacolod councilor Juan Ramon “Monju” Guanzon, president of the Negros Amateur Boxing Association (NABA) told Sun.Star Bacolod he believes that Pacquiao was better prepared in his second fight against Morales. Pacquiao bowed to the Mexican in their fight March of last year, also in Las Vegas. The Mexican won via a decision.
“This time around he had no more distractions during his training. There was no more problem with what gloves to use and he no longer had a manager whom he couldn’t fully trust,” Guanzon said.
“As a result of that focus during his training, he improved his right hand and they were able to execute a game plan to-the-letter,” he added. “This was evidenced by his flurry of punches into Morales’ body – a game plan which worked so well against a taller opponents as we have seen this tactic wore Morales down and in the long run he already had no strength left to absorb Pacquiao’s punches in the later rounds of the fight.”
Another big factor that contributed to the Pacman’s victory according to Guanzon was the fact that Pacquiao was already comfortable with the 130-pound weight limit.
“Pacquiao was already able to make adjustments with the weight division in contrast to Morales who had difficulty adjusting to the weight,” Guanzon added.
As for former Philippine Football Federation president and now Department of Transportation and Communication Assistant Secretary Ricardo ‘Cano’ Tan said the Filipino’s win via the TKO route in the 10th round “only proves that Pacquiao is not just a one-dimensional fighter who can falter in the later stages of a fight.”
Tan earlier predicted a Pacquiao victory with a knockout in the early rounds.
He added that Pacquiao’s victory last Sunday proved that he is a more dangerous fighter now because he can sustain a fight into the later rounds and still knockout his opponent.
Four other Negros sports leaders said Pacquiao’s training prior to the fight enabled him to absorb Morales’ punches while the Mexican’s belief that Pacquiao could not knock him down largely contributed to his defeat.
