PACQUIAO MANIA SURPASSES PRE-FIGHT HYPE!
Las Vegas, NV- Releasing a music album entitled (in Tagalog) “This Fight is for You”, assuring the boxing public that the first fight was a fluke, Manny Pacquiao performed as advertised, knocking out the iron chinned Erik Morales in the tenth round. During the pre-fight press conference back in November, Morales considered any Pacquiao excuses as being an insult to his March victory. He warned Manny that should he lose, lose like a man! Had Pacquiao lost the fight, he would have just been another good Filipino fighter, who can never step up to a legendary equal to the some of the best fighters in the division. Not to mention, an entire nation dedicated and praying for victory, not just for Manny, but for themselves as well. After referee Kenny Bayless called the fight after the second knockdown, it was safe to say that every Filipino, even for a moment, forgot their personal struggles and felt like champions!
MORALES THOUGHT FIGHT WAS EASIER REPEAT
Most people who picked Erik to win have been coming up with excuses, ranging from Morales, now 48-4, (34 KO’s, being shot, to his inability to pull another war out of his hat. Both may be true, but Morales’ game plan was one of the big factors in his defeat. In the first fight, Morales relied on countering the straight left and coming back, driving Pacquiao into the ropes. He continued that same strategy in the second fight and had some success in the first five rounds. However, Pacquiao made adjustments in his attack and instead of Pacquiao missing the straight left, he landed a right hook and body shots that wore Morales out. “El Terrible’s” only defense of fighting back, something that worked in the first fight but not in the second. Eventually, Pacquiao heavy body attack limited Morales’ chances to fight back because he lost the sting in his punch.
HOOKS MADE MORALES’ FACE TERRIBLE!
Another accomplishment Morales made in the first fight was that his face was not marked up. The reason for this was that Manny failed to not only throw a right hook, but a left hook or upper cuts. In his three fights with Marco Antonio Barrera, whose best punch is a left hook, Morales’ nose was busted and both eyes swelled. In the rematch, Pacquiao threw the Manny hook, which may not have dropped Morales with a single shot, but bruised, bloodied and battered Morales face, even in a round Manny lost. After the fifth round, Morales’ nose appeared to be broken and bleeding. Most scorecards had Morales up 4 rounds to 1 at the end of five. But the damage was already made and when Pacquiao stepped up the offense, Morales couldn’t retaliate.
MANNY NOT JUST A SIX ROUND FIGHTER!
Boxing experts often criticized Pacquiao, 41-3-2, (33 KO’s), on using up his entire gas tank in the early going, leaving himself empty after six rounds. Pacquiao takes these criticisms personally and worked on breaking an opponent down the entire fight. When Pacquiao suffered his first stoppage, he trained harder than ever to make sure he wouldn’t be knocked out again. However, after getting stopped on a body shot in a Thailand title defense, expert ruled that although Pacquiao has great power, but he couldn’t take a body shot. After acknowledging this weakness, Pacquiao worked with the medicine ball and now with bamboo sticks, to form rock hard abs. Now, Pacquiao has a great chin and takes a body shot well. We can also say that now, Pacquiao understands that against the top opposition, he can’t go for the kill in the first six rounds. For example, after knocking down Juan Manuel Marquez three times in one round, it seemed that Manny gave everything he had to stop Marquez. He literally fought the rest of the fight throwing a jab and a straight left. Marquez came back and the bout ended in a draw. Saturday night, Pacquiao realized that Morales would not go out in just three rounds. Manny even admitted it at the post-fight press conference stating that he was looking to win on the scorecards.
PACQUIAO RETURNS TO PHILIPPINES THE 25TH!
After a dominating stoppage against Erik Morales, Pacquiao has become even bigger than he was prior to the fight. Even in defeat last March, Pacquiao gained more fans because of his great effort. He barely had time to himself in the Philippines, and in his Los Angeles training camp. Imagine how his popularity will sore after this huge victory?
PACQUIAO HOLDS “OPEN HOUSE” IN VEGAS!
Even though he is immensely popular, he is also one of the most accessible athletes in the game. Perfect strangers walked in and out of Manny’s suite at the Wynn hotel all day Sunday, hoping to get a glimpse of their champion. Even when Manny was forced to leave his suite to do his many interviews, fans still waited outside. One group of fans either stayed is in room or outside his door all afternoon, but still failed to get a picture. This type of atmosphere will only escalate once Manny hits Los Angeles (he checked out of the hotel early Monday) and finally the Philippines. Sorry Pacman fans, Philippine airlines prohibits fans to hang on the side of the plane during Pacquiao’s return flight.
“THE PINOY” WITH KING MANNY ALL WEEK!
Later, I’ll post some observations during last weekend historical fight.
Jason Aniel
