LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao overwhelmed Erik Morales here Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila), stopping the Mexican in the third round to claim supremacy in their three-fight super featherweight rivalry.
Pacquiao stopped Morales after two minutes and 57 seconds of the third round, leaving Morales, the three-time world champion, seated on the canvas and shaking his head, saying he did not want to continue.
?I like that he came out early. I had time to knock him out in the early rounds,? Pacquiao said. ?I?m faster than him. I?m quicker than him. I?m superior to him. Now he can taste my power.?
Pacquiao improved his ring record to 43 wins, 3 losses and two draws by taking his 34th triumph inside the distance. Morales lost for the fourth time in his past five fights, falling to 48-5.
?I did my best. I had all the training. I did everything I could do. Manny was just too good for me,? Morales said.
?I looked to my corner. They encouraged me to get up but I said no. It was to no avail. There are times you are a beaten man. I was a beaten man tonight,? he said.
Morales was knocked down as many times in the fight, three, as he had been in his entire prior career and spoke like a man who had fought his last bout when asked about his future.
?I have to think a lot about it. It was a night that just wasn?t for me,? Morales said. ?I?ve had a long, illustrious career. I?ve done it all ? It?s fine if they want to promote me. But it might not be the best thing.?
Pacquiao lost a 12-round decision to Morales last year, but avenged that defeat by stopping the Mexican in the 10th round of a rematch last January and left no doubt who was the better man by blasting away at Morales.
?He didn?t respect my right hook. He was surprised by my right hook,? Pacquiao said. ?That was my big difference over him.?
Pacquiao was aggressive from the start, connecting quickly as Morales bided his time, picking his moments to counterattack. Furious flurries excited the crowd, which roared its approval at every exchange of punches.
Morales went down for the first time in the second round. Pacquiao attacked near the ropes and Morales left himself open to a left that slammed him back into the ropes and onto a knee.
Pacquiao, who had knocked down Morales twice in his earlier triumph, sent Morales to the canvas twice more in the third round to end the fight.
The Filipino superstar used a stunning right and a hard left that sent Morales down, although the Mexican rose and fought back, making desperate swings while wobbled and unsteady as he tried to escape the round.
But Pacquiao would have none of it. Another quick flurry saw Morales planted on his rear by a hard left hand. He sat there for several seconds, shook his head rather than rising and referee Vic Drakulich halted the fight.
In Metro Manila the streets were deserted as thousands of Pacquiao?s fans watched the fight on television.
In Manila the city government set up giant screens at the San Andres Sports Complex and Civic Center, Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Coliseum and Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium for a free viewing of the fight.
In General Santos City, the champion?s hometown, residents watching on a similar screen let out a roar every time Morales went down.
In Lucena City passenger jeepney drivers stopped plying to routes to watch the bout at home.
At SM City Lucena, the mall?s cinema that had a pay-per-view screening of the match was almost full. –With Katrice R. Jalbuena and Belly M. Otordoz
