LAS VEGAS – Look at any reputable, pound-for-pound poll and chances are Manny Pacquiao is in the top five. But if Pacquiao again defeats Erik Morales convincingly tonight like in their second fight last January, Pacquiao could take over the top spot.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been the consensus, pound-for-pound king for some time. But there are some who believe Mayweather hurt that status when he boxed his way to a 12-round decision over Carlos Baldomir in a welterweight championship fight on Nov. 4.
Pacquiao and Morales will square off in a super featherweight match at Thomas & Mack Center. The event, promoted by Top Rank Inc., is available on HBO pay-per-view.
“I do,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, when asked if Pacquiao should be crowned the best pound-for- pound fighter with a big win tonight. “Because I just feel that Manny is more of a complete fighter because he can box and punch.
“Mayweather’s a great boxer, but he’s not a finisher. Especially at his new (welterweight) division; he hasn’t knocked anyone out. Floyd’s a great boxer and a tough guy to beat for anybody in the world, but I just think Manny’s a more complete fighter.”
Pacquiao played host to a media workout
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last week at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. He opened a lot of eyes with his vicious punching on the hand mitts held by Roach. Making quite an impression were the bulging calves of Pacquiao, which look like they belong on a man twice his size. Alas, they are attached to a 5-foot-6
Roach has trained a lot of fighters during his Hall of Fame career. To him, Pacquiao easily is the most impressive puncher, pound-for-pound he has trained.
“By far, yes,” Roach said. “The power and speed are unbelievable. He has huge legs. He conditions very well and I think he was born with speed. You can improve speed, but you can’t make it.”
Bob Arum, Morales’ longtime promoter and chairman of the board of Top Rank, was on hand at the workout along with several members of his staff. They looked worried for Morales as Pacquiao ripped sharp, heavy punches into the mitts. Some began to wonder how Roach, not a big man, could handle them.
“Manny always looks terrific to me,” Arum said. “I call him the Energizer bunny. He just keeps coming and coming and it’s phenomenal because he never gets tired. In other words, if you’re going to fight Manny Pacquiao successfully, you have to be in top, top condition because otherwise he’s going to out-work you.”
Pacquiao is 42-3-2 with 33 knockouts. Morales, 30, of Tijuana, Mexico, is 48-4 with 34 knockouts. Both fighters weighed in at 129 pounds Friday, one pound under the limit. As per the contract, Morales would have had to pay Pacquiao $500,000 for every pound he came in over.
