LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The left straight that’s been remodeled into a vicious hook, a bigger and busier right hand, uppercut, new defensive moves anchored on ducking, head movement, side-to-side slips.
These didn’t form the complete package but they were the core of the weapon Manny Pacquiao had kept secret in the run-up to his second duel with Erik Morales.
Pacquiao did not have to detail them, the revised arsenal was bared in full during his masterful conquest and demolition of Morales.
But the RP boxing superstar, both fists swollen, did not hesitate to confirm that his offense against Morales on Saturday night was centered on the body.
“Marami kaming ginawa, pero ang pinaka-importante ’yung body shots (We did a lot of new moves, but the main thrust was to soften the body),” Pacquiao said inside his fifth floor suite at the Wynn Hotel where a thanksgiving Mass was celebrated by Fr. Gerry Beof from New York yesterday morning.
“Di ba dati puro left straight lang ang banat ko. Ngayon left hook, right hook, upper at body shots. Yun ang kanyang ininda (I used to rely mainly on my left straight but now I have a left hook, right hook, upper and body shots. Those punches hurt him),” Pacquiao added.
American trainer Freddie Roach said they had to train behind closed doors so other people would not be talking of the changes in the Pacquiao armory and arsenal.
“What we did was take the jab away from him,” Roach told the Inquirer.
Although he had confirmed the technical changes, Roach would not openly admit the transformation of Pacquiao from a predictable, one-track slasher into a well-rounded fighter.
In that big fight against Morales on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), there had been initial fears Pacquiao could be lured into a sticky tactical box-off.
However, whenever he would be caught in a fierce exchange, Pacquiao would acquit himself by outpunching Morales.
In short, that was practically a new Pacquiao his fans had seen inside the ring.
While he admitted Pacquiao has indeed undergone a style-and-system overhaul, Roach has been insisting Pacquiao will always be Pacquiao.
Obviously, Roach is again trying to hide something about the hottest property in his renowned Wild Card Gym.
Meanwhile, the doors of the Wild Card gym have again been opened to the public.
There’s nothing to hide at the moment.
His mission accomplished, Pacquiao is scheduled to leave this gambling capital with wife Jinkee and members of his team on January 25. They are expected in Manila January 27.
