LAS VEGAS ? Emanuel Steward, the discoverer of Thomas Hearns, and Larry Merchant, arguably the most respected analyst in the sport of boxing, expressed the opinion that Saturday night?s Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales bout on HBO Pay-Per-View is simply too close to call.
Steward, also the trainer of heavyweight Lennox Lewis, admitted that Pacquiao “is faster, explosive and the bigger puncher” compared to the Mexican, who remains a livewire foe.
“I have been hearing all the time that Pacquiao is a great puncher, but Morales has a great chin.”
Still, Steward believes there is a strong likelihood that the scheduled 12-rounder would indeed go the full route.
“Yeah, it could go 12 rounds. You can?t tell, really,” said Steward, whose Kronk Boxing Club in Detroit, Michigan, is widely considered as one of America?s most revered.
Merchant, who regularly works HBO?s biggest fights whether on cable or not, also lavished praise on Pacquiao?s left hand and his southpaw stance, which he said are going to play in the Filipino?s quest for immortality.
“Pacquiao is a southpaw with a big punch,” said Merchant at the media center inside the sprawling MGM Grand put up by Top Rank for newsmen covering the fights.
“This comes a shock to most fighters because the punch that you don?t see is the punch that will hurt you,” said Merchant, stressing the advantage of a left-handed fighter (Pacquiao) against a rightie (Morales).
