FILIPINO boxing fans were glued on their television sets Sunday. Some neglected their lunch not to miss the much ballyhood and much awaited Pacquiao-Morales fight, expecting a victory for the Filipino. Like in Las Vegas where the tiff was held, the Filipino pug from Gen. Santos City was favored to win by a knockout or by decision.
You saw it, I saw it, we saw it, how sad our very own Manny Pacquiao lost by unanimous decision, 115-113.
Pundits and connoisseurs say Pacquiao lost because of that nasty cut he suffered in the fourth round due to accidental head-bat. If not for that cut, the result could have been a different story.
Days before the fight and almost on a daily basis, our national papers printed that the 5’6″ Ring Magazine world champion will outclass the 5’7″ Chicano warrior who has an impressive 47-2 win-loss mark with 34 wins inside the distance. Pacquiao packs an equally sterling ledger of 39 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws.
Odds makers think that because Morales lost two of his three battles against his compatriot the illustrious Marco Antonio Barrera, which Pacquiao defeated via 11th round knockout, Morales has just a little chance to beat Pacquiao. It will be an all-Pacquiao effect.
We blundered. We forgot that the guy from Tijuana, Mexico would not be nicknamed “El Terrible” if not with his gallantry inside the ring. His record speaks. And his only two losses were at the hands of Barrera and observers say those verdicts were questionable.
We must remember that after Pacquiao scored three knockdowns in the first round against another Mexican gladiator Juan Manuel Marquez two years ago, Pacquiao failed to stop him and Marquez eked out a split draw after 12 rounds of savage fistfight. Meaning that Pacquiao is not smart and strong at all.
Last Sunday’s fight also proved that the greatness of Morales is unquestionable. Morales is crafty, masterful and was trained to fight Pacquiao even in a decisive way.
I am half-Filipino and half-Mexican because my mother is a pure Filipina and my father is a full-blooded Mexican. But I picked Pacquiao to win by a knockout or by decision although Morales is my half country mate. I picked Pacquiao to win because I was born and raised in this country and I believe the younger Manny is faster and stronger. But I was wrong like the others.
Surprisingly, Morales showed up at his best to display his guts, skills and masterpiece inside the ring. And on the other side, Manny put his best, too, but his best was not good enough-this time. I think the injury that he sustained in his right eyebrow disturbed his vision and that counts a lot. If not, it could be a different story.
We saw it how Manny fought gallantly even with that bad cut. Obviously, he wants to score a knockout after that incident but the elusive Chicano avoided the big lefts of Manny that had frozen other boxers in the past. Although he lost, we should doff our hats for his exceptional effort. He did it not for himself alone but for our country.
Reports say promoters are looking forward for a return bout between the two prizefight icons later this year. And if that happens, believe me, it will be a different tale.
Abangan natin. And I wish it would be done. And hopefully no more cuts, this time.
But the unlucky Manny is really lucky. He received a whooping $1.75M or P96.26 million, the biggest paid to a Filipino prizefighter of all time.
