The fans have spoken.
A US-based boxing site’s online poll showed Ring Magazine champion Manny Pacquiao winning by a knockout (KO) over Mexican Erik Morales, at least in the minds of boxing fanatics who logged in their votes as of yesterday.
Pacquiao, who faces the former World Boxing Council champion on March 19 in Las Vegas, is seen as a victor via a knockout by 93 percent of the 1,882 votes cast in Web site hardcoreboxing.net.
Along with 2 percent of the votes that predicted a Pacquiao win through a decision, the total Pacquiao votes numbered to 1,789 or 95 percent of total votes cast.
Only 88 votes or 4 percent said a Morales victory with 3 percent (64) seeing a knockout while 1 percent (24) eyeing a win via a decision. Only four votes expect a draw.
It is not known how many individuals represented the total number of votes cast.
Some of the more interesting insights from the fans, include one who predicted a Pacquiao win via unanimous decision with Morales hitting the canvas twice, but did not agree on the other fans ?horrible logic? of Pacquiao beating Morales since Barrera, a Pacquiao victim, defeated his fellow Mexican recently.
Fight fan Ben Kirchner wrote: ?There are people that are basing their predictions on horrible logic. Pacquiao (sic) ran through Barrera, Barrera (sic) beat Morales, therefore Pacquiao destroys Morales…Gimme a break! Common opponents can justify some logic, but Morales is a top notch fighter and Pacquiao (sic) is not superman. Anyone who says Pacquiao is going to KO Morales within the first half of the fight needs to watch more Morales fights and the Pacquiao-Marquez fight…?
Another fan named Ken Nakamoto said: ?Morales has the advantage in height, reach and experience. On the other hand, Pacquiao has the obvious advantage in power punch and speed…If Morales, a knock out puncher in his own right, could not knock Pacquiao out in three rounds, it would be Pacquiao putting down Morales for good within the same rounds. This is because just like Tyson then, Pacquiao also has brute power in him. This is indeed a classic fight to watch.?
Some fans questioned the security arrangements in the MGM Grand, anticipating that a lot of Mexicans and Filipinos will on hand to watch the fight and a controversial outcome might cause riots. Tickets for the Pacquiao-Morales superfight are priced at $400, $300, $200, $125 and $75.
Pacquiao recently broke away with long-time manager Marty Elorde, whose contract with the fighter expired last Jan. 31.
The fighter signed a two-year management deal with famed manager Shelly Finkel and renowned lawyers Keith Davidson and Nicholas Khan before California State Athletic Commissioner Dean Lohaus.
Trainer Freddie Roach was equally happy about Pacquiao’s decision to move with Finkel, who helped in the careers of Mike Tyson and Vitaly Klitschko.
Pacquiao, who seemed contented with his decision, has completed 36 rounds of sparring since he started training last month for the fight the fight the emerged following botched talk with champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Boyhood friend and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez said they are now concentrating on Pacquiao’s counter-punching.
Pacquiao sparred with taller welterweight Javier Garcia, super feather Ray Beltran and tough Ugandan Justin Juuko.
