The BBC has recently rated Manny Pacquiao (39-2-2 with 31 KO’s) as the fourth best fighter in any weight division. The accolade comes just as Pacman is slated to earn a record $1.75 million in his March 19th meeting with future Hall of Famer Erik Morales (47-2 with 34 KO’s) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on a HBO PPV.
There is much one can say about Manny Pacquiao and his fated conflict with Erik Morales. The most common discussions will reevaluate the sudden star power he achieved by destroying Marco Antonio Barrera (59-4 with 41KO’s) in light of Barrera’s subsequent successes at the uppermost reaches of the division. Others will consider the impact on his living legacy should he not dominate Morales, given the very difficult test Morales proved for Barrera. Still others will note that after knocking down Juan Manuel Marquez (44-2-1 with 33 KO’s) three times before the end of the first round, Pacquiao could not close the deal. Some experts will look down their noses at Pacquiao’s penchant for pool and partying, while others will express optimism that he recently destroyed heavy-hitting Fahsan “3K Battery” Por Thawatchai (44-8-1 with 23 KO’s), knocking him out in only four rounds.
Only one issue really should matter for boxing fans: the fight will be an explosive collision of Mexican border warrior and the South Pacific islander who has looked close to being adopted as an honorary Mexican. Pound-for-pound rankings are entertaining in their way. But if both fighters enter the ring in shape and well-prepared, then this meeting between face-forward sluggers can hardly fail to be a delight.
Should Pacquiao win, a terrific rematch between the Fistic Filipino and Marco Antonio Barrera drips big money. If he loses, boxing writers will have a field day rescripting his recently gilded profile, but a rematch with Morales will tantalize and surely qualify as must-see TV. The killer keystrokes of the literati can hardly prevent that. Morales has suggested he will lay siege to the lightweight division following the fight with Pacquiao, and that might present a small obstacle to a rematch.
Much is at stake for Manny Pacquiao as he faces Morales. His claim to fame is an 11th round knockout of Mexican hero Barrera. As with nearly all high profile losses in boxing, the excuses from the Barrera camp came fast and furious. His training camp was in danger of burning down, so he was forced to evacuate. He’d had brain surgery.
It seems the excuses meant something this time. Otherwise, how can one explain the epic third installment of Barrera vs. Morales? This is a problem for Pacquiao if he loses to Morales. Barrera’s loss will seem an aberration, a consequence of unfortunate events out of his control. A rematch with Barrera will be in order, but it will be a fight the Pacman has to win.
Pacquiao’s defeat of Fahsan “3K Battery” is on the surface impressive, as Pacman is the first to have knocked him out. However, his three previous fights garnered “3K Battery” a dismal 1-1-1 record, and all the opponents he had fought prior to Pacquiao combined for a whopping 336-270-48. That’s a 48.6% win percentage for all of Fahsan’s opponents. Thirteen of his fifty-three fights were against fighters making their debut. Twenty had lost more than they had won. Nine had fought at least once, and lost every fight. These are not statistics to make one fearful. Nor are they statistics that suggest the win over Fahsan means anything at all in the grand scheme of things.
Pacquiao should have won the fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. The failure of judge Bert Clements to score the first round 10-6 (he thought three knock downs equated to a 10-7 score) allowed Marquez to escape with a draw. On the other hand, Pacquiao did have Marquez down three times. He probably should not have left the decision in the judges’ hands. It seems poetic justice that the error occurred, as Marquez valiantly recovered from the early setback to make a very close, highly entertaining fight.
A rematch with Marquez is thus called for as well.
The tally stands as follows: boxing fans need to see rematches between Pacquiao vs. Barrera and Pacquiao vs. Marquez. Any result at all from Pacquiao vs. Morales demands a rematch between the two, assuming they could again agree on a weight. Marquez probably ought to get in the mix with Barrera and Morales, particularly if Pacquiao’s fight with Morales is close or if Pacquiao wins. Either result elevates Marquez in light of his draw with the Filipino.
It’s a four-way round robin of epic proportions.
Morales and Pacquiao are in position to lose a great deal in terms of standing in their fight, which translates to high drama for boxing fans awaiting it. Marquez stands to gain a great deal in a fight with any of the three. Barrera can take a big money fight at the other side of any of the possible match-ups.
Two established Mexican heroes and a third Mexican star will, after March 19th, be further bound together by a pool-playing Filipino puncher at the crossroads of his own success. Fans of courageous action fighters with skill and heart, rejoice. Whatever the possible outcome for the fighters involved, the future is bright for those who watch.
