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By Mortz Marcelo Ortigoza


Analysis: Pacquiao vs. Morales II (Part 2)

PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 21 Jan 2006

As you read this column, it will be only hours before the moment of reckoning of who is the best pugilist at this Super Featherweight (130 pounds) marquee fight on January 22 (Manila Time) that will be held at Thomas & Mack Center at La Vegas, Nevada in USA.

Psychologically, Manny “Pacman” Pacqauio will have no excuses like the inconvenient socks he wore (in the Marquez draw), rooms, tickets, and quarrels that bothered him before his first fight with Erik “El Terrible” Morales”. Before this second grudge fight with the latter, the former had probably accomplished his 130 sparring rounds with at least four boxers. One of them was a lightweight (135 pounds) Russian. The gods would be smiling at the Filipino gladiator because he will be using the less padded Cleto-Reyes gloves. And his performance will be much better this time because he is coming out for a revenge on his loss to Erik last March 20 (Manila time), 2005. On the other hand, El Terrible has maximized his training by hitting the bags ahead of Pacman. He is not only there in Vegas to defeat or knockout Pacman as he said, but to redeem his lopsided loss to the sophisticated Zahir Raheem last September 2005 as I surmised. He sparred with Seven boxers. Four of them were for er world champions.

Physically, Morales is much bigger than Pacquiao. He should be at 135 pounds (lightweight) breaking heads with big guys like Diego Corrales, Julio Diaz, to name a few. His size, and hand reach proved to be a bane for Pacman. His granite chin, and his record of durability of not being decked or knocked out is one of his strength. His long left jabs where a good cover for his strong right cross (straight), uppercut, or hook that saw Pacquiao withdrew helter-skelter from this right counter punch (inspired by Juan Manny Marquez counter punching superiority against Pacquiao that nearly defeated the latter).

Pacman, known for his renowned previous world championship fights as a high gear go?getter fighter after the bell rang in the first round. His “atomic bomb” powered left hand saw many slept with nightmare on the canvass. Not to mention the Porsche-liked speed of the said hand. This Filipino stamina is exceptional. His 12 round is like his first round performance. Identical with the kind of staying power of Bernanrd “The Executioner” Hopkins.

Tactically, Pacman known as a one dimensional fighter like Mike Tyson. He is like those Flintstone’s guys who carry a big wooden club on the left hand rushing to his opponent by bludgeoning him to pulp mercilessly. On this rubber match, Manny becomes more dangerous because the washing machine size Winning gloves would be replaced by the less padded leather. An advantage for a knockout puncher like him. Probably some of the Mehikanos’ scream in Vegas would be like this: “Look out! That flintstone dude is no longer carrying a wooden club. God save us, he now wields a 2 feet long strong iron pipe sawed by those thieves from the sewerage system . Save your head, run for your life!”

But Morales was undeterred, he said he used the said gloves too in his more experienced boxing battles. He added, he found no difference between Reyes and Winning. With the padded Winning, he KO’d a lot of opponents. He could slug Pacquiao to the latter’s mitt’s preference. Or if he wants, they can do it without the gloves, as he declared in one his late and rare press conferences. Morales is a slick boxer. His well-studied fight with Pacman last March proved that circling the latter from his lethal left hand at the same time bombarding him with his (Morales) long left jabs as his Big Bertha’s right hand exploded to the face and body of the Filipino hero. As he put the final ejaculation to the said March encounter, In the 12 round he boldly and carelessly mixed with Pacman by changing to the southpaw stance (positioned his left hand to the rear, while his right hand was positioned to the front). Thus opening his right chin (sensitive area for knockout) to the left hand bombs of Manny amidst the wild cheers of the Mexican fans. This, as one instance, how El Terrible could take punches from the said knockout artist.

Freddie Roach declared that his Filipino ward will be a complete boxer. No more one sided bull like attack? Probably, a blueprint for what Zahir Raheem had whimsically done to Moralels with speed and slick last September. I doubt, however, if this kind of style can be harnessed by Roach to Pacquiao overnight. They have just started training for this strategy last December 3 to prepare for a contentious tactical fight this coming January 22. Can this experiment to transform a one sided fighter to a multi-skilled one effective especially if tested over a multi-dimensional 29 year old fighter that boxed since five year old and held three weight boxing divisions as world champion?




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