WE’VE all cheered and thrilled to Manny Pacquiao doing a demolition job with his killer fists.
But who would’ve thought the world boxing celebrity, who has impressed the likes of Muhammad Ali, could be equally sharp with his tongue, and even desecrate a masterpiece?
Pacquiao came out blazing when asked about the weekend world featherweight unification fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
He belittled the dominance scored by Erik Morales over the fire-breathing Carlos Hernandez.
In his critique of Morales, Pacquiao had decided to go against the whole boxing world.
Boxing experts were actually one in rating that hard-earned win by Morales a classic.
Pacquiao, however, offered a totally different view.
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Instead of praising Morales, he threw a one-two combination at the fabled champ.
First, Pacquiao scored Morales, known worldwide as El Terible, for being rather slow with his punches.
Pacquiao followed up and claimed Morales
was not too focused, and at times even refused to look at his target.
“Medyo mabagal si Morales, minsan hindi tumitingin kung saan siya sumusuntok,” Pacquiao told the Bulletin’s Nick Giongco.
Giongco, a Pacquiao camp insider, added that the Filipino world boxing sensation wasted no time and declared his readiness to face Morales anywhere.
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The observation, done with a keen fighter’s eye, could indeed sound self-serving.
One good thing here is that the act of desecrating a prizefight masterpiece has definitely fed Pacquiao’s confidence.
Without openly stating it, Pacquiao had claimed he would be faster, stronger than Morales.
That, in a way, could be true.
Pacquiao, a fabulous speedster, is younger and appears more energetic than El Terible.
Pacquiao would, however, be fooling himself if he starts entertaining the idea that Morales, if ever, would fight him the way he had battled and controlled Hernandez.
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Take it from one who has seen a lot of the masterful Morales.
Morales cannot be expected to use the same bombs he had exploded on Hernandez against Pacquiao.
Why? Because Morales, pardon this phrase, is not a one-track, one-dimensional boxer like Pacquiao. If to a prized actor, he could adopt to all sorts of roles.
Pacquiao indeed loves to do things inside the ring his kamikaze, go-go, fastbreaking way.
But, if to a singer, he’s limited to a single repertoire.
On the other hand, Morales, with his in-born depth, not to mention his deceptive composure and experience, could readily offset Pacquiao’s explosiveness, slow him down, and even use his speed and bravado against him.
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Another thing: Morales is not exactly slow, as Pacquiao had mistakenly viewed the masterful Mexican.
Morales is cunning and deliberate. He doesn’t rush up things.
He thinks, adjusts, before executing-a superb, all-around gladiator.
Well, maybe this need not be brought up, but Pacquiao had had the same idea of Juan Manuel Marquez before their big clash in Las Vegas last May.
After he had succeeded in flooring Marquez in the first round, Pacquiao next woke up to a nightmare.
The supposedly slow foe was actually a calculating, near-perfect counter-puncher who delivered with blinding sharpness at the right time.
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Anyway, that 11th round demolition by Pacquiao of Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera last year could also be ranked a prizefight masterpiece.
Pacquiao, together with world title hopeful Z Gorres, a protege of sportsman Rudy Salud, leaves to train in the Wild Card Boxing Club of Freddie Roach next month.
Once Pacquiao hits Hollywood and starts talking shop with his trainer, expect Roach to tell him the raw truth.
Morales promises to be twice as complicated as the unsinkable Juan Manuel Marquez.
