Manny Pacquiao’s fated meeting with Mexican legend Erik Morales is shaping up to be a signal moment in boxing history. On March 19th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas a Mexican legend and the man who appears to be the litmus test for this generation’s best Mexican Featherweights will meet. Call him the Filipino Foil: he is the contrasting agent by which the best Mexican fighters are judged.
It is a fascinating role, and it guarantees a number of exciting fights as Pacquiao (39-2-2, 31 KO’s) moves from this fight with Morales (47-2, 34 KO’s) to face Marco Antonio Barrera (59-4, 41 KO’s) and Juan Manuel Marquez (43-2-1, 33 KO’s) again. Barrera has a devastating loss to make Pacquiao answer for and Marquez has a controversial draw with Pacquiao the Filipino wants to avenge.
The buzz surrounding this fight is reaching super fight proportions. Some are calling it the ‘little Hagler-Hearns’. That scenario depends on Morales; it depends on whether he chooses to box, for it is no secret that Pacquiao will be coming forward, dropping bombs like the Easter Bunny drops eggs. And Morales is not known for making himself hard to find.
Though the odds will likely approach even by fight time, many are giving the edge to Pacquiao. He beat Barrera, who beat Morales twice. The simplest boxing fan can read the writing on the wall with that kind of history behind the fighters.
However, the circumstances surrounding Barrera’s loss to Pacquiao (some call them excuses) may well explain Barrera’s lackluster performance. He did have brain surgery, after all. He was forced to leave his training camp due to an encroaching forest fire. These are not small distractions, and they are not the only distractions he suffered.
Since that fight Barrera knocked out Paulie Ayala and beat Morales. These are significant wins that lend credence to the suggestion that his loss to Pacquiao was the result of an off night. In the intervening time Pacquiao has failed to put away Juan Manuel Marquez after having him down three times in the first. He ended up with a draw. His only other fight was against glorified club fighter Fahsan (3K Battery) Por Thawatchai (44-8-1, 23 KO’s). His knockout victory over 3K Battery is really meaningless when considered against the threat he faces in Morales.
Barrera’s history since his loss to Pacquiao suggests he is still the fighter of old, and he may well have just had an off night. Pacquiao’s recent history provides nothing to suggest he will dominate Morales, whose only losses have come against Barrera. Both have been razor thin decisions. He has consistently demonstrated chin and heart enough to pose a serious threat of resisting Pacquiao’s power.
This is not to say that Morales should stand still for Pacman. It does suggest that the Filipino Foil is in for a serious trial himself. Whoever wins, it is virtually guaranteed that this litmus test will show red.
