Having comprehensively battered Mexican legend Erik Morales into defeat last weekend, Manny Pacquiao returned to Los Angeles to visit his stable mates at the Wild Card Gym. The gym was packed with fighters and fans alike, with everyone crowding around a video taped copy of the fight.
Pacquiao was remarkably unscathed from the brutal war he had taken part in, and spent his time greeting fans and chatting quietly with other fighters. The most ‘Yahood’ person on the web was seemingly unfazed by his astonishing accomplishment, took his time to speak to everyone in the gym.
SecondsOut caught up with Pacquiao and his trainer Freddy Roach literally minutes before the Philipino legend left for his native country.
“I think this was the best fight of my career”, Pacquiao told SecondsOut. “Erik Morales is a very tough guy, but I wanted to win so badly. I was in good shape and I stuck to the game plan”
And when did he realise he was going to beat Morales?
“In the sixth round” replied Pacquiao. “I knew he was hurt. He was getting slower”.
What did he think the difference in this fight was?
“I hit him to the body in this fight. And my right hook landed a lot more. He is a warrior, and a good guy. He comes to fight. He gave his best, and I gave my best.”
And whom would he like to fight next?
“I don’t really mind. Maybe Barrera. It would be a good rematch as he is a warrior as well.”
Alongside Pacquiao was his trainer Freddy Roach.
“It was a great, great fight,” Roach said. “One of the best I have ever seen, certainly the best that Manny has ever fought. I was very confident that we’d win, just seeing Manny in the gym. He was so focused. I don’t think any version of Erik Morales could have beaten Manny on that night. He just wanted it so badly”.
And what did he see as being the major difference?
“It was all the thing we had worked on in the gym; the head movement, the body attacks. I saw from the 5th round on that Morales was getting winded by the body shots, and I knew they had problems.”
“I think this has definitely proved that Manny is the best super featherweight out there. We were more comfortable at this weight, and this time we hurt Erik a lot more”
And did he think Manny’s choice of the Reyes punchers gloves made a difference?
“I think so. I mean over a number of rounds, the blows are more effective with Reyes gloves.”
And what do they want to do now?
“Well, there is always Barrera, but to be honest, I don’t think he wants that fight. I’ve met Barrera, and he’s a nice guy, but he’s talked a lot about fighting Manny, but I don’t know how serious he is”.
“I think we’d take a warm up fight first, to give Manny a chance to recuperate. Morales is talking about a rematch at 135, and I don’t think we’d do that. I’ve said we could do it at 133, and I’m not too bothered about 3 lbs.”
“We may take someone like Carlos Hernandez. I’d have no problem with that. He is always game, and he can punch a bit.”
As a combination, Pacquiao and Roach have proven a formidable force in boxing. Roach has shaped the lighting quick power puncher into a smarter, more polished fighter. Pacquiao no longer just darts in and out, relying only on his powerful left hand to daze his opponents. He now moves laterally, and can deliver punishing body shots and vicious right hooks from angles.
This version of the ‘Pac Man’ is as dangerous as they get in the art of professional pugilism. He is relentless, intelligent and without a doubt the biggest puncher in his division. It would be unwise of Marco Antonio Barrera to take the rematch, as plainly put, he does not have enough to compete with the package that now makes up Manny Pacquiao.
It would be an exciting fight, but probably just as one sided as their first fight. Barrera likes to sit back and counter opponents, and the speed with which Pacquiao gets in and out would make this virtually impossible. There are fights out there that would make sense, possibly going back down to 126, and fighting Juan Manuel Marquez again, but for now, Pacquiao should rest up and enjoy the fruits of his labour.
From selling cigarettes on the streets of Manila, to beating two of the greatest Mexican fighters of our time, Pacquiao certainly has much to be proud of.
January 27th 2005
Writer Ben Cohen can be reached at [email protected]
