All roads lead to Vegas on the third week of March for the staging of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales superbout. You might think,”Here we go again.” So you ask “Did you say superbout?” And I say, “Yes, you blockhead, it is indeed a superbout.” I know that there have been a lot of fights before that were billed or hyped as superbouts or must-see fights, but ended up as a letdown for fight fans who had eagerly and anxiously waited for its fruition. But once in a while, we are rewarded with a fight to remember. And the Manny P.-Erik M. fight is our remuneration for all that waiting. When was the last time you saw an explosive fight? A fiery opening round? In my view, the last explosive encounter was Barrera-Morales I, and the best opening round war was the Hagler-Hearns fight in April of 1985. I am talking about championship fights of great fighters. That’s why I never tire from reminiscing about such moments. It is what I live for as a boxing fan. The Hagler-Hearns 1st round will forever be embedded in every fight fan’s memory, simply because there are few rounds in the annals of boxing that can rival it for sheer ferocity and unrelenting firepower.
Tommy Hearns perhaps threw the biggest right hand punch that really rocked Marvin Hagler, who was probably the only person on earth at that given time who could withstand the impact of that solid punch by Tommy. Hagler didn’t go down when he was smacked, but his forehead was badly sliced and bleeding heavily. But the Marvelous One showed why he was perhaps the greatest middleweight of all-time. He wasn’t only impervious to pain, he was also undaunted by the threat in front of him. Hagler took the fight to Hearns with both guns blazing like John Wayne. Tommy couldn’t believe it. Both guys just stayed in a corner like newly-weds who would not part.
Both throwing their Sunday punch, the ref, Richard Steele could only watch. Couldn’t blame Steele, as it was simply mesmerizing to watch. Well, you all know the end result of that fight. It was so compelling for me personally, that I even named our firstborn after Marvin Hagler a month later. Even after Hagler kayoed John Mugabi a year later, he would say that Fulgencio Obelmejias still punches harder than the rest of his past opponents. But just recently, in an interview, Hagler honestly acknowledged that he was undeniably wobbled by Tommy’s hard punch.
Barrera-Morales I fell into the classic category. The two Mexican rivals brought all their artillery to the ring. They tore and ripped at each other in a brutal display of pure mayhem. It was a classic for the very reason that the animosity continued even after the fight was over. Bitterness took the better of these two great fighters. One can only wonder what would transpire if they happen to bump into each other at Canastota when they enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame. What is common about great fighters? They are classified as “throwbacks.” That superb breed of fighters of yesteryear, who are known for their ferocity on top of the ring, who are unyielding to the hurt their sport brings, and who just fight for the passion of fighting. They are the men amongst men. They do not look ahead for the monetary rewards that victory ensures. Rather, it is the allure of having that aura of greatness that fires up these men. It is not surprising why the boxing world has long been fascinated with these throwback fighters.
Guaranteed Classic Affair (Pacman-El Terrible)
You want to recover from those traumatic John Ruiz fights? You want an antidote for your Hopkins-Eastman hangover? Then get a load of this one, and I assure you, you won’t be disappointed. Yep, fight fans, this one is a surefire thing. The tag for this fight really suits them, for Pacman and Erik will really come to this fight with all the heavy artillery. They will come with everything. Everything as in EVERYTHING! Like two gunslingers who will fire and empty all their shells at each other. Like two high rollers who will push all their chips forward just to see who’s got the better hand. Bluff or no bluff, neither will back off. Show me your hand!
They’re throwbacks. It will be LaMotta-Robinson again. Perhaps Zale-Graziano, or maybe Saddler-Pep. Scribes were right in saying it’s a pick ’em fight. When was the last time you saw a fighter whose only two losses aren’t even clear cut, where he may have also won them ? I say it’s Erik Morales. Can you think of any two fighters today who don’t duck anybody? I say it’s Erik again and Manny Pacquiao . Fighters who lay it all on the line every time they fight? There are few. Erik and Pacman belong to that elite club together with throwbacks Diego Corrales, Ricardo Mayorga and the old version of Arturo Gatti. The atmosphere at MGM Grand will be electrifying. All will be pumped up. This is the fight that further adds luster to the gem that is the featherweights.
This is the fight that will dictate the future of the boxing landscape for this great division. Lives will be shaken, emotionally and financially. Credit card providers will have a field day on this one. March 19 is D-Day. A validation of pugilistic greatness. Now which way does it go? For me, it doesn’t matter. Both guys already had it. Las Vegas bookmakers will go crazy about the spread on this one. It’s hard to tell where the wise money is. The odds will fluctuate like Wall Street stocks when the Mexican and Filipino bets comes in as the fight nears. And given these nationalities fervent liking of the game of chance, those bets will be huge. Just like the magnitude of the Pacman-El Terrible fight. Both of these great champions will cover for their countrymen. Both of these men amongst men will cover for that rare breed in today’s boxing. Because only throwbacks can roll the dice.
