WILL MORALES MAKE IT HARD?
Los Angeles, CA-One of the greatest little men in boxing, three time world champion, Erik Morales, will headline the Staples Center as he fights former Olympian Zahir Raheem. According to many sources, Morales has the most impressive fight resume in all of boxing. A future ‘hall of fame fighter,’ Morales holds victories over both Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao. One of the biggest criticisms people have of Morales is that he has looked bad against lower level opposition. In fights against Guty Espadas and In Jin Chi, he struggled and faded late, resulting in close wins. Even when outclassing fighters like Paulie Ayala and Carlos Hernandez, Morales has always made it a war, finishing the fights on occasion with unnecessary bumps and bruises.
RAHEEM’S BIG SHOT!
Zahir Raheem has been an underachiever thus far through 27 fights, after beginning his career in 1996. This former ‘96 Olympian was a victim of a bias and bad referee in his last big fight against Rocky Juarez. Although Raheem had to face two men that night, he did look exhausted and took a knee during the fight. Some questioned his mental preparedness and his lack of quality opposition other than beforehand. Only seeing him fight once, this was against faded former world champion, Luisito Espinosa. In that fight, Espinosa dropped and stunned Raheem with a great left hook. However, Espinosa’s old legs caught up to him, as Raheem finished him off by working the body, breaking the Filipino into down and into submission in the 8th round. That being said, Raheem has faced adversity coming back from a knockdown and an enormous handicap in a “homer” referee.
DON’T LOOK AT THE RECORD BOOKS!
On paper, Morales should be able to walk over Raheem easier than dialing 9-1-1. Erik has defeated every fighter he has faced, and Raheem lost to Juarez, who was recently defeated by unheralded Humberto Soto. Morales has fought better than ten past or current world champions, where as the “Z Man” has only fought one, this being a shot Espinosa. However, as stated previously, Morales has never fought a fight without some bumps and bruises and a rough round. Raheem is a slick and smart boxer; someone Morales hasn’t really faced before. Zahir is still young and has never been in any brutal wars, something Morales is famous for. Simply put, Raheem is a live underdog, but with what is at sake for Morales, another huge payday against Manny Pacquiao, he won’t take any chances, meaning a points win.
PEOPLE SAY PACQUIAO HAS IT EASY?
Speaking of the “Pac-Man,” Manny Pacquiao comes back in fight against a well-traveled and experienced Hector Velazquez. Compared to the last year and half of Pacquiao’s career, Velazquez is a step down in opponent class, this to get him ready for a potential rematch against Morales. Velazquez is saying all the right things to promote the fight, and he has won all his fights since losing a tough decision to the aforementioned Rocky Juarez. However, the victories have come against very soft opposition and Pacquiao is anything but!
“DIRTY HECTOR, THE RICK FLAIR OF BOXING!
The biggest fear Pacquiao should have in the fight is if Velazquez tries to take Manny out of his game plan, all the while fouling him. IBF champ Robbie Peden, he experienced this first hand in his battle with Velazquez, describing him on “Ring Talk Radio,” as a “guy who will hit Manny low!” Velazquez, who can be called a Morales clone, is there for taking as he won’t (or he does not know how to) back up. He will try to do anything and everything to win, as this will likely be Velazquez’s last chance to reach the elite stage.
FOOL’S GOLD?
When Manny Pacquiao hit the “Wild Card Gym,” exactly one month ago, critics worried that Manny would cram and therefore make the fight harder than it has to be. One of the mistakes made by Team Pacquiao and the media at large was underestimating Erik Morales’ potential to beat Pacquiao. Fans assumed that since Marco Antonio Barrera, who was stopped by Pacquiao, defeated Morales, Pacquiao would easily walk over “El Terrible.”
MANNY WAS FAVORED OVER ERIK!
The Las Vegas odds shared that sentiment, Pacquiao was an 8-5 favorite against the former 130 champion. Obviously, learning from defeat, writers and fans have held their breath, not taking this Mexican too lightly as before. However, Velazquez was hand picked by Team Pacquiao to prepare him for a potential rematch. Shelly Finkel, one of the premier managers, knows what he’s doing, To insiders, he’s matching Pacquiao up with a non-killer Mexican.
VELAZQUEZ IS NO RAHEEM
To give Erik Morales credit, he has definitely chosen the tougher opponent in Raheem. You can say that Zahir is actually undefeated. Hector Velazquez is a well-traveled (veteran), but he doesn’t come close to matching up to Pacquiao’s talent. Therefore, don’t expect a miracle upset from Velazquez against Pacquiao. He won’t be able to handle Manny’s firepower, and will not make it past the 6th round.
THE MOST COMPETIVE FIGHT
The most competitive and possibility the best fight on the card is a jr. flyweight world championship fight, where champion WBC champ Eric Ortiz takes on undefeated Brian Viloria. It’s difficult to clearly pick who will come out on top since both fighters have distinct advantages over the other. On one hand, Ortiz has fought the better opposition, naturally the bigger man, and is looking to break out as one of the best little men in the sport. On the other hand, Viloria has been said to have the tool to become the next Michael Carbajal. Viloria is a former 2000 Olympian, and is attempting to be the one Filipino-American world champion today. Both fighters have all to lose and everything to gain. “The Pinoy” can’t make a prediction, so I’ll just enjoy it like the rest of the audience. Too bad HBO couldn’t televise this marquee match-up.
BAUTISTA READY TO LOWER THE BOOM!
All eyes will be focused on undefeated, 19-year-old; Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista takes on Felix Flores. The bantamweight has all the makings to be a dominant fighter, and with trainer Freddie Roach handling him early in his career, expect huge things for “Boom-Boom.” Bautista looks his age, and seems to like the bright lights of Las Angeles. He should handle Flores pretty easily, and with all the media at Staples, an outstanding performance is a must.
QUICK JABS (WEIGH-IN STYLE)
Erik Morales apparently failed to make the contracted 134 pound weight limit in his first try, at 134.5. He quickly went to the back and tried to reduce (even though the WBC’s weight limit was 135), but was then informed that Raheem’s manager waived the half pound and Morales didn’t have to re-weigh…Hector Velazquez and Manny Pacquiao came in at the jr. lightweight limit of 130. Surprisingly, Pacquiao wasn’t at least a pound and half or less under the weight limit, as he has usually been…Brian Viloria and Eric Ortiz made the 108 pound limit, a weight most females couldn’t make ( and myself of course!)…Rey Bautista and Felix Flores were a pound under the bantamweight limit at 117…Freddie Roach has a busy day tomorrow as his 4th fighter fighting on the undercard, Vanes Martiroysan, weighed in at 154; same as his opponent, Gerardo Prieto.
