After witnessing one of the best flyweight showdowns I’ve ever had the chance of seeing – Jorge Arce vs. Hussein Hussein, it got my blood boiling to its fullest and I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation of what was to come. I was about to witness what turned out to be a great night for the sport of boxing. From the excitement and roaring of the crowd as each fighter entered the ring after their National Anthem, this was just a taste of the atmosphere we were about to behold. Erik Morales 48-2, 34 KO’s vs. Manny Pacquiao 39-3-2, 31 KO’s
As I sat with a mix bunch of people, as old as 72 years of age to as young as 2 years old, I wondered for a brief moment, look what these two fighters have done for the sport of boxing. They have brought 3 generations together in one place to witness greatness in the making. That doesn’t happen every day. It did on March 19, 2005.
With a room full of energy, food and drinks ubiquitously, and an even fan base for both fighters, this place was about to get real loud. From the opening bell this group of people focused on every second of every minute, in order to not miss a single lightning punch, that could end the fight for either man.
Morales would start off the fight the same way he carried the fight, with a strong left jab and staying in the middle of the ring. Pacquiao would find his moments and seem to hurt Morales at times. He even looked to possible put him down, but it was Morales’s jab that got him back in position and in control of the fight.
In round 5 an unintentional head butt (ref called it a punch) stopped the round and gave a rest to both fighters, as the ring doctor examined the cut above Pacquiao’s right eye. When the action resumed it was clear that the cut was bothering Pacquiao as the blood flowed down the side of his face.
As rounds continued, Morales now had a target to aim at and keeping that jab right into Pacquiao face. Manny at times would come charging and connect either with a body punch or a jab himself and hurt Morales. As a great champion he is, Erik Morales would show his ring leadership and always end the rounds on his terms which can be sometimes the deciding factor in a judges scoring.
With ten seconds left at the end of the 12th and final round, both fighters let out all of their intensity, hard-hitting, and self-righteousness. Two walls collide and neither of them wants to fall to the ground. So, they remain standing. Pulling off a victory for both men in everyone’s eyes.
As this crowd of generations starts to wear down from the exhilaration we had just experienced, it is announced that all 3 judges see it unanimously and score it 115 – 113, the winner and new WBC International and IBA Super Featherweight Champion – Erik “El Terrible” Morales. It didn’t matter really to the crowd around me who won; we were all delighted to have witnessed a classic in the making and a definite choice for fight of the year.
Where do they go from here? Morales vs. Pacquiao II couldn’t come soon enough. For Morales, his options are open. Of course everyone would love to see a 4th phase to try and even the score again with Marco Antonio Barrera. Does he look at the lightweight division and try and make some big money there? After a good relaxing rest following this victory, Morales will return to give what the fans love and that’s a down right great showing of skills and willingness to risk everything to be the best in the world.
Pacquiao will go back home to the Philippines knowing, even though he lost this time around, his performance still showed the world that he is a man of pure heart and soul. He is very graceful in defeat as he is in victory. He will probably look to do like Morales had done with him and that is to go after a big named opponent to show that Manny Pacquiao is still the best in his league among legends. His performance should well deserve to set up a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez.
In closing, I am honored to have shared an evening among boxing fans of all walks of life. It was a pleasure talking to people who remember fights from the 50’s and 60’s and compared those classic battles to the one we all just observed. To rate it as a classic battle as the ones fought over a half century ago show world that boxing is just as good today as it was yesterday. Erik Morales vs. Manny Pacquiao is a classic. Watch the rebroadcast on HBO next Saturday, March 26, 2005 and see for yourself.
