LOOKING HARD AT THE WORD ?PRECEDENCE?
Whether you believe Manny Pacquiao will blow out Erik Morales in less than six rounds, or you think Morales will break down Pacquiao late, it?s important if one can to back up your arguments with precedence, a past fight that each boxer may attempt to emulate come this Saturday March 19 in Las Vegas.
MORALES VS PAULIE AYALA: NOVEMBER 16, 2002
Erik Morales had just lost a controversial Decision in a rematch with rival Marco Antonio Barrera, and Paulie Ayala became the object of Morales? revenge. Ayala, a southpaw like Pacquiao, tried to land the straight left but paid the price every time he came inside. Morales, showing no respect for Ayala?s power, cracked him with right uppercuts and left hooks. O put it somewhat mildly, it was a pure beat down over 12 rounds, with Morales nearly stopping Ayala in the last round.
PAULIE HAD ?LIMITED? SUCCESS ON THE INSIDE!
Ayala, about the same height as Manny, did have success with the straight left, a punch Manny must land in order to be effective. Paulie double jabbed and came inside with the left and worked Morales body with great success, Ayala was most effective on the inside, something Manny will look to duplicate, only on a much larger scale. However, Morales was picking him off coming inside with stiff jabs and powerful uppercuts. Look for Morales to try to execute that type of game plan next Saturday against the power punching ?Pac-Man.?
YOU KNOW PAULIE AYALA IS NO PACQUIAO!
Now those people planning to get in line to make their final bet at the MGM Grand, they shouldn?t be placing their bets solely on precedence. Although both Ayala and Pacquiao are southpaws, Ayala couldn?t punch holes in toilet paper. Pacquiao may very well punch holes on brick walls. Because of Ayala?s lack of a punch, Morales showed no respect to Paulie.
ERIK DIDN?T RESPECT AYALA ONE BIT!
Throughout the fight, Morales had his hand to his waist and ate a lot of left hands, which didn?t even make Erik blink. Don?t expect that same disrespect against Pacquiao, this because Erik knows his hands are full. This is probably the first time Morales hasn?t predicted knockout in a big fight.
PACQUIAO VS SERIKZHAN YESHMANGBETOV: MARCH 15, 2003
Most boxing fans have never even seen this fight, which was only shown in the Philippines. Also most Pacquiao experts would think his match with Nedal ?Skinny? Hussien back in 2001 would be the game plan most likely used against the taller Morales. However, after watching the fight again, I noticed that Yeshmangbetov used a lot of right hands and uppercuts against a raging Pacquiao.
A REAL SURPRISE FOR PHILIPPINE WONDERKID!
Manny dropped Yeshmangbetov in the first round with left hooks instead of the normal straight-left hand Pacman likes to use. Yeshmangbetov?s style was very similar to Morales because he is the same size and height as ?El Terrible? and countered Manny when he had his chances. He even shocked Pacquiao and landed a nice counter right that put Manny on his butt. ?Pac-Man? finished him off in the next round, but the story of that fight was the knockdown! The left hook worked wonders on Yeshmangbetov and maybe a punch that Manny will use against Morales.
YESHMANGBETOV IS OBVIOUSLY NO MORALES
Obviously you have never heard of Yeshmangbetov, and that more or less tells you that he?s not even in Morales? galaxy. Pacquiao did not respect Yeshmangbetov as well, as he came in with reckless abandonment with hooks and body shots. His Trainer Freddie Roach was not in Manny?s camp during the tune-up. This fight was also at 126, unlike the upcoming fight at 130. Morales has a much better chin than Yeshmangbetov and throws his punches with better angles and more power. However, the game plan and style of Yeshmangbetov is similar to Morales and he did drop Manny.
MORALES-PACQUIAO FINAL PREVIEW
In my final preview, I?ll break down the fight, cite the advantages and disadvantages of both fighter, and reveal my much hidden and known prediction.
