San Antonio, TX- As the fight unfolded in front over 14,000 diehard boxing fans at the Almodome, it became clear that the only question was not if Manny Pacquiaowould win but when and how. During the first two rounds, Pacquiao had a lot of problems getting inside the long arms of Jorge Solis. Suffering his first career loss, Solis made it clear that he was going to do his best not to get knocked out and the price was a lack of offense. “Before I even threw a punch, he was moving his head back.” Pacquaio explained as to the early difficulties.
HEADBUTT ENDED UP COSTING SOLIS BIG
Flashbacks to Manny’s last lost to Erik Morales (March ’05) occurred when Solis and Pacquiao clashed head, causing a deep cut under Pacquiao’s left eyebrow. A cut that was caused by headbutts seem inevitable because of the styles each fighter had with Solis constantly trying to duck under Manny’s power shots and Pacquiao’s face first lunging power game. However, referee Vic Drakulich, correctly ruled that the cut was caused by a clash of head, unlike the error made by Joe Cortez, ruling the cut Manny received against Morales was via the punch. Fearing a premature ending, Pacquiao picked up the pace and muscled his way with several power shots, hurting Solis and making him very uncomfortable.
SOLIS “QUIT” MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE
Pacquiao did not really land hard power shots that he has been known to land. Solis fought a totally defensive fight; wisely use his reach to avoid Pacquiao’s haymakers. In the eighth round, Solis completely used up his tank and was not ready to take it to another level needed to beat Pacquiao. After a sharp left uppercut, Solis crumbled to the canvas and contemplated whether or not to continue the fight. The Mexican bravely got up, but when the Pac-Monster continued his assault, Solis was ready to call it a night. Landing another left, Solis was already on the way down when Pacquiao landed his famous straight left, which forced Solis hit the canvas faster and harder.
OTHER THAN CUT, PACQUAIO UNMARKED
After his post fight interview in the ring, Pacquiao quickly rushed back to the locker room to get stitched up. After a shower, Pacquiao spent little time with his entourage and sprinted back to the ring to conduct another interview; this time with Solar sportscasters Chino Trinidad and Quinito Henson. After a ten minute interview, Pacquiao once again ran from the ring to the other side of the Alamodome for the post-fight press conference
MANNY IN “NO HURRY” FOR A KNOCKOUT
With a lot on his mind—from an election to lawsuits—Manny Pacquiao was in no rush to end Solis’ night early. Although many ringside experts noticed that Pacquiao pressed more than usual early, trying to get a quick knockout, Pacquiao admitted, “It would’ve been nice to go twelve rounds to work on my stamina, but when the cut happened, things changed.” Trainer Freddie Roach, who spent less than twenty-four hours in San Antonio, was happy Manny got the job done but didn’t like how Manny fought the first couple of rounds. When asked about his reaction to the cut, Freddie said, “I just told him stop playing around.”
6AM FLIGHT HARD FOR ALL OF US!
After the press conference, Pacquiao boarded a long stretch hummer limo back to the Raddison Hotel on West Durango Street about ten minutes from the Alamodome. Arriving at the hotel around 12:30 AM, Pacquiao was swarmed with adoring fans as well as two camera crews and of course his entourage at the small hotel lobby. Finally getting back to his room on the fifth floor at 1’oclock, Pacquiao ran to his room, where his luggage was already packed for a 6 AM flight. As Pac sat eating some food his cook prepared for him, Rob Peters, Pacman’s enforcer, once again guarded the door, though the strict “Pacquiao Time” room rules were lifted. Peters, who was obviously tired after a long week with little sleep, said, “This was not as hard as Las Vegas. People respected the rules.” Peters will get little rest because he’ll accompany Pacquiao to the Philippines. Get ready for the parades Enforcer!
FALSE ALARM WASN’T PRODUCTIVE EITHER
After doing several interviews with ABS-CBN and GMA (the two Philippine television giants), as well as numerous telephone interviews, Pacquiao had a mass set for 2 AM. “I’ve been so blessed that I always return the blessing to the Lord and give him thanks.” An hour later, someone on the second floor pulled the fire alarm in the hotel, which woke up everyone and forced myself—along with my parents and cousin—to pack and check sooner than expected. By 5:30 we were at the San Antonio International Airport where Manny and his entourage boarded planes; Pacquiao and his party flew on an American Airlines flight while the rest of the team, including Rob Peters, trainer Justin Fortune, and myself boarded a U.S Airways jet to Phoenix, the port where connections were made to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Less than 24-hours after the win, Pacquiao flew from Los Angeles to the Philippines where he will begin his campaign for a congressional seat.
FINAL JABS FROM TEXAS…
“GOOD NIGHT DARLENE” SIGN? Promoter Bob Arum and many Pacquiao supporters had a good laugh at a sign someone made. The sign read “Good Night Darlene,” which was an obvious pun on the popular catch phase and aimed towards Pacquiao’s congressional opponent Darlene Custodio. Just as the protester at the weigh-in was wrong in holding a “Pacman stay out of the political ring” sign, this sign was just as tasteless. Pacquiao would have never approved that sign. VILORIA IS NO HEAVYWEIGHT: It was the same old Brian Viloria on Saturday, as he once again threw one punch at a time, with no follow ups. This time he lost to a fringe contender, Edgar Sosa, who has never beaten elite fighters. Viloria took a massive beat in the last four rounds, more damage that Brian has never received in all of his last fight combined. Looking gaunt and dehydrated during the weigh-in, Viloria looked too big for the 108 lb. division. In the very lower weight-class, heavyweight styles where fighters throw one punch at a time will not work. Viloria, who was a considerable favorite, never used his jab to get inside of Sosa or throw any combinations. Once again, Viloria lost the last four rounds to lose another tough decision. BERNABE HURTS RIGHT HAND: One of Pacquiao’s prospects, Bernabe Concepcion, won a tougher than expected ten round fight over the game Ben Flores of Houston, TX. Concepcion, only 19, used an effective stiff jab to control the action for most of the fight. Flores, now 14-3 (4 KOs), was looking for a knockout late but Concepcion used good footwork not allowing that “lucky” shot to land. Bernabe, who rises 21-1-1 (11 KOs), revealed that he hurt his right hand in the second but continued to throw it once it got numb. Not televised on the Pay-Per-View, Concepcion has potential but needs to stop dropping the right hand when he throws his jab. MOST IMPRESSED WITH A.J BANAL! At only 19, A.J Banal is currently not only training with Freddie Roach but also in Oscar De La Hoya’s Puerto Rico based camp for the biggest fight of De La Hoya’s career. PACLANDERS UNITE IN SAN ANTONIO EB! Members of the Pacland message board, on Dong Secuya’s Philboxing website, once again had their pre-fight Pacquiao EB (Eye Ball). Started in January 2006, members of the message board, come together for a meet and greet before they motorcade to the venue, where Pacquiao fights. This time, over 20 Paclanders, including myself, were graciously invited to the Joseph Manansala’s (handle name: ERAP) residence, where he prepared food and drinks. SHOUT OUTS: Special thanks to: Rob Peters, Blackcorner, Tommy, Kaz the Photographer, Joseph Jose, Edward, Archie, Alex, Gerry and Goodie Penalosa, Vernie Torres, Richard Gonzalez, Diosdado Gabi, Ben Delgado, Nonoy Neri, and Quinito Henson, who made my stay in San Antonio one of the best fight weeks ever. And to Joe Ramos, who no longer works as an assistant for Manny. In closing to Joe Ramos, who used to work for Manny, I hope you spent that money well!
