NOT TOO MANY INTANGIBLES IN “SIN CITY!”
Las Vegas, NV-There are only a few ticks of the clock left before the Erik Morales-Manny Pacquiao rematch is on! And while emotions run high throughout the Philippines, fans supporting “El Terrible” Morales are quietly confident. After all, it was just ten months ago when Morales, utilizing both a height and reach advantage, boxed his way to a unanimous 115-113 decision.
MANNY HASN’T LOOKED GOOD IN TWO YEARS PLUS!
More often than not, the rematch is a carbon copy of the initial encounter. Pacman followers are convinced that Pacquiao had a bad night, complicated by a head butt and nasty cut. He will win tonight, so they say, with ease. But is there any rationale for such feelings? I say no! Manny hasn’t won a big fight since November 2004, or 26 months ago! That was the KO of Marco Antonio Barrera, Pacquiao’s major upset win over the marvelous Mexican.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
Since then, Pacman had the draw with Juan Manuel Marquez, this after dribbling the Mexican around the ring like a basketball early on with multiple knockdowns in rounds one & two. Down the stretch though, JMM made a remarkable comeback. The end result, a draw! Manny beat a guy named 3K Battery, lost to Morales, and TKO’d an almost hapless lad in Hector Velazquez last August.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY FOR ME II?
Morales, he certainly didn’t look good against Zahir Raheem in August. This had more to do with Raheem’s North Philadelphia boxing style, than the deceleration of “El Terrible.” That being said, to gauge Morales at this juncture is tough. He may very well be shot! The wars, the nightlife, and father time, they may have all contributed to this. Right now at 29, Morales is two months shy of a 13-year tenure as a professional boxer.
PACQUIAO WILL NEED TO ADMINISTER PAIN EARLY!
If Pacquiao is to win here, he will need to duplicate the performance he put forth against Barrera. In other words, Manny will need to “bum rush” the much taller Erik Morales. If he can’t hurt Morales in the first couple to three rounds, Erik, he will have began a pattern to victory. If this sounds like virtual reality, you must be Filipino! What this fight boils to is size! Standing 5’8, Erik turned professional straining to make 122 lbs. Pacman stands 5’4, and weighed 106 lbs. for his debut in 1995.
MORALES TO PITCH NEAR SHUTOUT TONIGHT!
With his back up against the wall, Erik Morales, he knows that he is fighting a much smaller man. And if you think he was disciplined in his work ethic against Pacquiao in March, expect Morales to be sharper, more focused, and so precise tonight that Manny should be “lunging in” by the fourth or fifth round. That’s when you can expect the straight right hands of Morales to start bouncing off the Filipino’s forehead. And while I’m almost certain Erik will win a decision, if Pacquiao gets caught flush enough, it’ll be good night Irene!
ODDS ARE PRETTY MUCH EVEN EVERYWHERE!
All around Las Vegas, as well as in offshore casinos, the Erik Morales-Manny Pacquiao fight is about even! Favored slightly, Morales, he may end up the underdog because of the fact there are a lot of rich Filipino’s that’ll bet with their heart. Pacquiao, the icon that he is, people in his native land would bet him against Godzilla. That being said, Filipinos will realize quickly that Pacquiao is fighting at least one, if not weight classes bigger than is optimum.
Pedro Fernandez
Note: Mr. Fernandez is an award-winning writer, radio talk show host, and four-time Golden Gloves champion. Comments related to this article can be left below.
