CHICAGO – With Pacquiao-Morales III just around the corner, my Inbox is beginning to clutter with e-mails about the highly anticipated Nov. 18 fight. Allow me to share a few of the interesting letters.
Joseph Pardo of UC Main ([email protected]) begins the fireworks with his knowledgeable take on the upcoming event: “I’m not a boxing guru in the mold of SunStar Cebu columnist Jingo Quijano, but I believe Pacman will win, by KO inside 10 rounds, or by unanimous decision beyond it.
“Erik’s battle to reduce weight will sap the power of his fists and legs, not to mention his stamina. If Erik’s handlers will tell him to do a Barrera, he’s dead. Pacman cuts the ring sharply, reducing it into a one square meter battleground. Also, Manny has the stamina to go a full marathon.”
I agree with you Joseph, I think Manny will win, too. But it won’t be as easy as you make it sound. Erik’s reported struggle to make weight isn’t as dire as his last tango with Manny. And El Terrible, having trained in seclusion for weeks now at the Otomi mountains in Mexico, appears to be in superb physical shape.
Javier Javier ([email protected]) asks: “In various interviews at different TV networks, Freddie Roach said Pacquiao will knock out Morales between rounds three to six. He also said a KO will occur on Round 7 or no later than Round 12. Why is he tentative? Is he boastful or very confident?”
Given the incredible number of microphones he has to answer to, I wouldn’t get it past Freddie to give varying predictions, but cut the man some slack. He is not a prophet. Freddie is neither tentative nor boastful. He’s just supremely confident that Manny is the better fighter than Morales.
John Zantino-Soon ([email protected]) wonders: “As the Grand Finale nears, one thing bugs my mind. What color will the Destroyer’s trunks be for the grudge match? In the first fight, he wore the flames of fire that was red with the everlasting No Fear logo. He abandoned it in the second fight in lieu of the lesser flames in white and won. This time around, is it better for Pacman to wear black with the flames on it? Just being superstitious.”
I don’t want to make light of your superstitious nature, John, but it doesn’t really matter if Pacquiao’s trunks will be black, white, red or fuchsia pink. The Grand Finale will be won or lost by skill and will, power and stamina.
