Manny Pacquiao 40-3-2 (31) vs. Hector Velazquez 42-110-2 (31) was almost by design supposed to be a reaffirming knockout win for Pacquiao, an outing to see how his new right jab and discipline power hitting style was coming along under the guidance of trainer Freddie Roach. So, for Team Pacquiao it was beat Velazquez and book a date for a rematch with Saturday night’s headliner Erik Morales; the Mexican legend taking on dangerous Philadelphian Zahir Raheem.
Pacquiao, 26, looked enthused and fit – fighting at 140 – ripping up Tijuana’s Hector Velazquez, an old stable mate of Erik Morales in his second fight at 130 pounds. The Staples Center fans were screeching from the fist punches landed by Pac-Man, with many Mexican fans urging on the underdog Velazquez. Velazquez went forward trying to back Pac-Man off, with some hooks landing from both fighters. Clearly, both fighters looked for the knockout in the first round loading up with every other blow. Velazquez a much larger figure began to absorb rather than land in the first minute of the second round. The right lead and left was setting up the left hook which rocked Velazquez at 50 seconds.
With the Mexican pressing, Pacquiao landing hard hooks with Velazquez scoring with his left hook, right hook combination. By the third round the question was which fighter was going to land the harder hooks. With Pacquiao’s speed beginning to assert itself, the answer became increasing clear. Velazquez was at times rushing his attacks, each time allowing Pacquiao to land hard hooking counters.
A left uppercut jarred Velazquez, but the speed was telling by the end of the third. A straight right was a planned attack by Velazquez and at times it did land. Showing some good lateral movement, Pacquiao tired to box in spots, turn to his left and shoot the jab before asserting his hard hooks. As in the third, Velazquez kept coming forward, parrying what he could trying to rough up the Philippines star when he could. The difference in quickness allowed Pac Man to square up on the inside and out punch Velazquez though not to the body as he predicted before the fight. Fighting a relaxed and orthodox style Velazquez landed some good rights in the fourth. Finally Pacquiao landed to the body with is left as a counter measure. Amazingly, Velazquez was making the fight with his attacks, but Pacquiao was gradually scoring big left crosses.
Then all of Pacquiao’s shots were landing in the sixth, the jab and the left cross and hard hooks to the body, a left hook to the body at 1:20 hurting Velazquez. One perfect right hook stunned Velazquez. Against the ropes Pac Man opens with all his punches and Velazquez fought and held his way to mid ring. Then with a vicious left hook and right pile driver beat Velazquez to the floor with one second left in the round. Referee Dr. Lou Moret counted out the Mexican at 1:59 of the sixth to win the WBC 130lbs International Championship.
