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War Looms Over Pacquiao’s Fortunes PhilBoxing.com Sun, 06 Aug 2006 The 1993 Team Terrible, featuring the father and son tandem of three-time world champion Erik Morales was one of boxing’s storied ensembles of the late nineties. The engaging Tijuana bunch did well in ambushing boxing’s elite in their 13-year run, amassing three world title belts replete with millions of US bank notes that invariably went to the bank of d’winnah. A bond of filial loyalty flourished in the closely knit group with the nucleus staying intact until the hard-punching Mexicano went loco by firing his father Jose, a credible mentor in their halcyon days. It was a costly blunder made by the three-time champ, coming as it did when Erik dealt Manny Pacquiao a nasty beating in their first meeting at the MGM Grand. In the rematch, Morales suffered his first knockout in 52 fights, a 10th round stoppage by Pacquiao who was devastatingly hot in that cold January night. That was then. Now, Daddy is back and son Erik is insisting on a sure win in the obligatory rubber bout which could close out the Pacquiao-Morales historied rivalry. The Filipino ring marvel says he’ll be at the Thomas and Mack Center (scene of their earlier carnage) to personally hand Morales his retirement papers after he does a repeat-thrashing of the gutsy Mexican. Morales’ forced retreat to a secluded barrio could happen if he fails in his crucial November bid against our champ who continues to excel over all of the other ring standouts to include Rocky Juarez, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Marco Antonio Barrera. While Manny is an excellent fighter, his poise gets skewed or perverted if you will, especially during fierce exchanges in a given round. Neither is he graceful. But he can punch faster and decidedly harder than any of the current crop of beak-busters seeing action in the various weight classifications. Morales counters with a guarantee of an all out, hand-to-hand fracas that could bring not only closure to his bloody, if not deadly, battle with the GenSan superman but of untold riches as well. Aah, such braggadocio. Generally viewed as a fight that compels fans to pick a winner, I have once more declined to foretell how this stirring rematch would play out knowing that a slip up would not only be costly but calamitous as well. But really, the impending fistic war, rife with unrelenting power punching between two proud but brave braggarts could, in a way, rival the intensity of the hostile strife currently plaguing Israel and Lebanon. ‘Nuff said. And before I momentarily sign off—will Pac Man’s belligerent subalterns quit dipping into his coffers and observe a moment of truce as intermediaries (well-intentioned if you please) try to end the internecine war for control of Pacquiao’s fortune. Abangan! Click here for a complete listing of columns by this author. Click here for a complete listing of this author's articles from different news sources. |
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