Want a winner for this Saturday’s megafight in Las Vegas?
Flip a coin.
Neither fighter can lose.
It’s unlikely the skill, chin and experience that brought Tijuana’s Erik “El Terrible” Morales (47-2, 34 KOs) three world titles in three different divisions will fail him. I don’t see him crashing to the canvas under the blazing fists of someone fighting for the first time as a super featherweight – even if he is a slug-happy southpaw speed demon.
It’s equally unlikely Filipino superstar Manny “The Destroyer” Pacquiao (39-2-2, 30 KOs), a two-time champ at two weights, will let little things like size and skill get in the way of smashing his way to a win – even if it is against a Mexican legend whose only two losses were close decisions to archnemesis Marco Antonio Barrera.
What is likely is a war.
This fight is so good that nobody has even noticed – or just doesn’t care – that there’s no title at stake.
Expect to see anything and everything tomorrow night when the two collide in a 12-round super featherweight bout at the MGM Grand in Vegas. The fight will be televised as a pay-per-view event by HBO for $44.95.
If logic dictates, then Pacquiao should be able to blast his way through “El Terrible” the same way he did against Morales’ two-time conqueror, Barrera, in November 2003. Speed, power and sometimes reckless aggression all point to Pacquiao, who hasn’t lost in nearly six years.
On the other hand, the blueprint for beating Pacquiao was drafted over the course of 12 rounds by then World Boxing Association/International Boxing Federation champ Juan Manual Marquez in May. Marquez weathered three knockdowns in the first round only to counterpunch his way to a draw.
“I will box him and discourage his charges,” Morales told media Tuesday night upon his arrival at the MGM Grand.
“I expect a tough fight.”
Success for Morales means surviving Pacquiao early on and not getting suckered into brawling. Success means jabbing, boxing, moving and staying away from Pacquiao’s crushing right hand.
This time around, however, Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach say they’ve developed a secret weapon that is supposed to stop Morales cold. It’s called “Manila Ice,” which is nothing more than a right hook.
“I’m not saying anything about a knockout,” Pacquiao said Monday night in Vegas. “I’m just going to do what I need to do.”
If Pacquiao does come on strong as a two-fisted slugger, Morales is going to be in trouble – unless he can duplicate Marquez’s tactics and hope Pacquiao starts to fade in the later rounds. But, despite any early punishment, Morales has proved countless times he is a strong finisher.
A slight advantage for Morales will be in the brand of gloves worn in the fight.
Originally, Morales and Pacquiao were to wear different brands. Pacquiao favored Mexican-made Reyes gloves, which are a puncher’s glove due to less padding around the knuckles. Morales chose the Japanese brand Winning, which has more knuckle padding and more protection for Morales, who has brittle hands. Last week, however, the Nevada State Athletic Commission ordered both camps to wear Winning.
Betting odds have it a near pick-?em fight, with a very slight advantage for the puncher Pacquiao. But regardless of who you favor, ticket sales mark this as a potential classic.
Nearly 12,000 tickets have already been sold. Promoter Top Rank expects to sell at least 1,500 more to a walk-up crowd from Morales’ hometown of Tijuana. Most likely, it will be a sellout crowd of 14,500 at the MGM Grand.
On the undercard: In an elimination bout, former champs Jorge Arce (38-3-1, 28 KOs) and Hussein Hussein (27-1, 21 KOs) duke it out. WBA Superfly champ Martin Castillo (27-1, 16 KOs) defends against former flyweight king Eric Morel (35-1, 18 KOs), and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (16-0, 11 KOs) fights another tailor-made opponent in Ryan Maraldo (17-15-1, 5 KOs).
Warm up: As an appetizer, HBO2 will replay two classics. On Friday, the first fight between Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera from February 2000 will be replayed at 8:30 p.m. Then, Saturday at 2 p.m., May’s war between Pacquiao and Juan Manual Marquez will be replayed.
