It was a show titled “Double Trouble” with Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao in separate fights at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on September 10 to promote their rematch in 2006. But someone forgot to tell Zahir Raheem to follow the script. The 1996 USA Olympian completely outboxed Morales to win a unanimous twelve round points decision in a fight that is SecondsOut’s “2005 Upset of the Year”.
In the lead-up to the night, the two matches were being billed as tune-up’s for a rematch between Morales and Pacquiao. The Filipino had claimed that outside distractions hindered his performance in their first fight and Morales was willing to give Pacquiao a rematch. The “Pac-Man” took care of Hector Velazquez by 6th round stoppage on the card. All Morales had to do was beat Raheem. Easier said than done.
