The biggest fight of a young 2005 takes place on Saturday night, when Manny Pacquiao takes on the third of the trinity of Mexican fighters around the featherweight and junior lightweight classes in Erik Morales. As with many fans and other experts, opinions at Ringside Report vary widely on who will emerge victorious, and that’s what makes this such an exciting fight.
“Bad” Brad Berkwitt
The thing I love about this fight the most is the hype for it. It reminds of the buzz when Sugar Ray Leonard faced Tommy Hearns the first time around back in 1981. In fact, this fight may have some similarities to that match.
My gut tells me Morales is going to be leery of Pacquiao’s power and try to stay out of the pocket while boxing him and using his reach and height advantages. This is going to make Manny the aggressor in the fight. Questions I am wondering… Has Morales slowed down after so many constant wars over the years? This is a big intangible in this fight. The other is how does Manny deal with the increase in weight? With all of these points made, I am going to go with Pacman by 11th round TKO.
Dave McKee
The fight will be a slugfest. Pacman will look good early, as he will rip massive shots off on Morales. Early rounds will be close, going to Pacman due to the power he is delivering.
Around round six the tide will turn. A bloody Morales will begin to get off on Pacquiao. Sometime in round 9 Morales will overcome his Filipino foe by TKO.
Jose Antonio Rivera
Man, this is a tough one. I am going to go with past experience on this one. I have seen that power punching brawlers like Pacquiao give Morales trouble. Morales is as tough as nails and is very good, but I am going with Pacquiao by decision. Pacquiao just seems to be very hungry at this stage in his career.
Sean Newman
This is as exciting a fight on paper that can possibly made. Neither guy shies away from a slugfest, and I don’t expect that to change for this fight. The biggest factor I see in determining who will win this fight is how much both Morales and Pacquaio learned from Pacquiao’s fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Many people, myself included, felt that the last eleven rounds of that fight exposed Manny as a one-dimensional fighter armed only with a straight left hand that has the speed of lightening and the power of a truck. Will Morales take a page from Marquez’s book and box more to gain a decision? Will Pacquiao retool and come back as a more complete fighter and draw Morales into a war? I think in the end, it will be Morales superior overall ability that wins this fight for him. He will box at times, slug at others, but cautiously, and finally stop Pacquiao in seven rounds.
Paul Concannon
I expect a late stoppage for Morales. I think he’s the better fighter. Pacman is a helluva fighter but he has got more questions hanging over him than Erik Morales coming in.
Manny has never fought at super featherweight, and was somewhat exposed as a fighter without a plan B when Marquez began outboxing him after being floored early. I still feel he is flattered by those two results, Barrera & Marquez, as he was fighting a clearly off-color Barrera and was largely outboxed by Marquez.
We have heard plenty about Pac Man’s power, and the ‘Manilla Ice’ right hook that he and trainer Freddie Roach have been working on, but I think Morales has plenty of power at this weight; let’s remember he decked two very sturdy-chinned world champions in Jesus Chavez and Carlos Hernandez in his title winning performances.
Erik Morales will not want to lose two fights on the bounce, and one thing nearly as good as beating up on his most hated rival will be making a statement against someone else that has.
I think Morales wins, and by a clearer cut margin than current odds would indicate, probably between the seventh and the ninth after an early scare or two. I have picked against this great fighter too many times in the past – Morales, for me, is just the more complete package.
Whatever happens, it’s going to be a scorcher while it lasts.
Bill MacTrinder
I’m having to go with Erik “El Terrible” Morales on this one via late round stoppage. Morales has been in wars before and will weather the storm in the early and middle rounds. Pacquaio will bomb Morales with big left hands throughout, but Morales will not go down. Pacquaio will run out of gas late.
Vito Trabucco
Pac Man should have a harder time with Morales than he did with Barrera. Though Morales should have a couple shining moments, Pacquiao should roll by him. Pac by unanimous decision.
Brian Wilbur
This is such a difficult fight to pick. Morales knows how much is at stake, so I don’t think he will be careless and dive in face-first at Pacquiao. His best chance of winning would probably be to duplicate what Marquez did in rounds 3-12 against Pacquiao. However, if Morales fights at too slow of a pace, he will get gobbled up just like Barrera. At some point, Erik is going to stand and trade with Manny. When that happens, I favor Pacquiao because of his two fisted power and freakish hand speed. However, Morales has too much pride, toughness, and heart to go out quietly. I have a hard time picturing him getting stopped by anyone. Pacquiao by majority decision.
Jason Tremble
A big battle of small porportions. I see Erik Morales showing his ring leadership and winning this encounter with a split decision over Manny Pacquiao.
Jason Liimatta
As much respect as I have for Morales, I think he’s in over his head in this fight. I pick Pac-Man with a knockout late in the fight, probably around the tenth round.
Epie Almeda
I pick Manny Pacquiao to win by stoppage. Erik Morales has seen his best days. Erik’s loss to Marco Antonio Barrera bolstered Manny’s confidence to beat him. This would not have been the case had their fight been held last year before the Morales-Barrera III fight.
George Diaz Smith
It was a humbling experience for Erik to have lost the first fight with Barrera as a toss up, and not getting enough credit for the second one. He carries past, present, and future. Traditionally, Mexico has always fought with fervor that comes from a life of rich history that they’ve had in our own country brought to the forefront.
Pacquiao is now a junior lightweight that may have an option to fight at 126 once again. If he is maintaining his same hunger in this fight, I can see it going the distance, but to knock out Erik Morales? There was a song by Larry Harlow and Ismael Miranda called, “Abran Paso,” meaning open crossroads or paths. And I also believe that this one fight will bring the clamors for the glory days of longevities of champions staying in a single division, a profound missing link.
I’m going with a fierce dogfight in which each get knockdowns, but neither will let up for punching percentage that will astound the pugilistic world. I don’t think anybody will be satisfied with the verdict of a draw.
Isaac Barrio
Manny Pacquiao Vs Erik Morales will bring fireworks. I see Manny taking control early with his speed, but as the fight wears on and he realizes he cannot KO Morales he will lose confidence. Manny will get sloppy in an effort to get to Morales and in doing so; he will get caught by one of Erik’s vicious uppercuts. Morales by 11th round TKO..
Totals: Manny Pacquiao 6 Erik Morales 6
