They don?t call him that for his manners, although Marco Antonio Barrera could certainly make a case for it, especially after a water-throwing incident marred the aftermath of their third fight.
They don?t also call him that for his singing, and in fact Erik Morales swears it more appropriately describes Manny?s crooning forays.
Born in an apartment underneath a Tijuana boxing gym, they call him El Terrible to describe his warrior-like prowess as a prizefighter. A fluid boxer as well as a fearless puncher, El Terrible will gladly trade your left hook for his thunderous right hand. He will solicit your probing jab, only to adeptly parry it and land one of his vicious uppercuts. That?s how he is and he no doubt deserves his ring moniker.
But you know what I really think is el terrible? Its how some people, including those purportedly close to Manny, are making this fight out to be an easy one. The odds-makers are also equally guilty, with Manny a heavy betting favorite. (Look for some movement, though not by much, as the notoriously late Mexican-money comes in).
In a rare lucid and sober interval, I stared into my trusty crystal ball (actually a foggy, frosty beer mug) and saw that this fight will not be an easy one for the Pacman. Even Manny himself was uncomfortable at such unparalleled optimism.
?Sobra naman ang tiwala nila sa akin?, he remarked. I?m glad he feels that way. It?s healthier for him.
Manny did not necessarily outfight Morales in the second fight. He outlasted him. The punch stats will confirm this: 195 landed out of 795 thrown for Manny while 184 landed out of 644 for Morales, which means only an 11-punch difference in punches landed. In an action-packed fight that went 10 rounds, that?s not much. Manny hit but he got hit too. The difference was the conditioning. The vicious body shots unleashed by Manny eventually paid dividends in the 10th round.
Manny proved to be tougher than Erik. Pinoy lambanog over Mexican Tequila.
It also means that a well-conditioned Erik Morales will not be an easy prey for Pacman to gobble up. Indeed, it is very dangerous to inculcate in Manny?s head that this will be a walk in the park for him. All the talk about Morales? weight worries are silly distractions that should have been ignored up until the weigh-in.
Whether he becomes weak trying to make it is entirely another matter, but let?s not forget how a ?weak? Morales managed to make life miserable for Manny the first half of the fight.
Hence, the focus should be on Manny?s conditioning and training rather than Morales? lack thereof. When you lull a fighter into a false sense of complacency, you are condemning him to suffer a painful awakening once reality sets in. We have a saying for this in litigation: The prosecution should rely on the strength of its own evidence rather than on the weakness of the defense, to prove its case.
Lets all hope that all the talk about an early knockout was just pre-fight hype and that Manny has trained sensibly for the fight. Otherwise, I fear for the backlash that is sure to come if Manny loses. It would indeed be Muy Terrible.
A FEW GOOD MEN. Two weeks ago, this last rounder had the pleasure of sharing a few rounds with a few good men of Philippine boxing: Antonio Aldeguer, Sammy Gelloani, Salven Lagumbay and Dong Secuya.
Today, they are in the USA for the Pacquiao-Morales tiff together with Sun.Star Cebu?s very own Homer Sayson. They will be at ringside to join thousands of our countrymen rooting for Manny as he fights for Pinoy pride.
Godspeed guys. May your cheers bring added vigor to every punch Manny throws.
THE LAST ROUND. The last round is on my sister-in-law Atty. Renelda Chanco-Quijano of Hilongos Leyte who celebrated her birthday yesterday.
Renee, as she is fondly called by family and friends, is the mother of Yanna Isabeli, my beautiful niece whose eyes pierce through your defenses like a Pacquiao straight left. Cheers!
