BY noon today, the whole nation would have learned the fate of Manny Pacquiao in his rematch with Erik Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But if Filipinos had read the website editions of the major newspapers across the United States—and even in the United Kingdom—the day before, they would have felt a sense of dread, as almost all of them implied that the Mexican legend would again prevail over “PacMan” in a fight both need to win to ensure their futures in boxing.
“Morales is bigger. Not by much, but maybe just enough,” wrote Norm Frauenheim of the Arizona Republic, after “El Terrible” tipped the scales at the super featherweight limit of 130 points to Pacquiao’s 128.5 at the official weigh-in on Friday (Saturday in Manila). The fight is scheduled Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).
“On the scales Friday, Morales still looked down on Pacquiao. At 5-foot-8, Morales is 2 inches taller than the Filipino, whose attempted assaults in the first bout were repeatedly halted by blows at the end of Morales’ longer reach,” added Frauenheim.
Morales beat Pacquiao via unanimous decision in their first encounter last March 19, 2005 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino also in Las Vegas, and gained additional incentive to defeat the Filipino icon after an admittedly embarrassing loss to former US Olympian Zahir Raheem at the lightweight level.
“Erik Morales is coming off a shocking defeat, which is when he appears most vulnerable—and most dangerous. If anyone understands that, it should be Manny Pacquiao,” wrote Ron Borges of the Boston Globe.
“Morales was brilliant in the first fight against Pacquiao, a bout he inherited because [Mexican] Juan Manuel Marquez [the world featherweight champion] was asking too much to get back in the ring with the Filipino battering ram,” added Barry McGuigan, wring for The Daily Mirror, the UK tabloid.
But some writers, like Steve Springer of the Los Angeles Times, also had questions for the 29-year-old Morales, whose career appears to be on the decline.
“The question is, will his fists sing? Back at his more familiar 130 pounds, can Morales re?focus, and exploit his superior punching power to again defeat Pacquiao? Or will Pacquiao, his vision clear, be able to again show the superior boxing skill he demonstrated at times in the first fight and, this time, finish the job?” Springer wrote.
The LA Times writer also quoted Morales’ promoter, Bob Arum, saying: “The fact that Morales lost his last fight [to Raheem] makes this one [a?gainst Pacquiao] even better.”
Springer then added: “Only if Morales has learned from the experience. If not, his will be a song sung blue.”
