By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Rather than dwell on the distractions and controversy that surrounded the first clash between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales when both men truly came with everything, astute fight fans are looking for the nuances of that first epic encounter and the two fighters build-up for “The Battle” this Sunday, Manila Time, to try and figure out what might happen.
For sure the nasty cut suffered by Pacquiao in the fifth round last March 19 affected him substantially as the blood oozed and hampered his vision for the remainder of the fight. But for some of Pacquiao’s fanatic supporters to claim that Morales inflicted the cut deliberately and that he might resort to this tactic again isn’t fair. Fact is, Pacquiao lunged forward and their heads came into contact as they exchanged punches. There was nothing sinister or deliberate.
Given the reality of the cut, Pacquiao’s performance was one of supreme gallantry to say the least which was somehow aided by Morales’ decision to adopt a southpaw stance in the final round. It was totally unnecessary and could well have cost him the fight as Pacquiao nailed him with some vicious shots.
One of the keys to the rematch is certain to be the weight factor as Morales, quite definitely, has a problem making the 130 pound limit. The last time around he looked gaunt and drained, was a quarter pound overweight in a trial trip to the scales and eventually had to strip right down to barely make the 130 pound limit. He even stumbled while going down the steps.
Morales is bigger and taller than Pacquiao and as he gets on in age will find it harder to make the weight. A photograph on one of the boxing websites showed Morales training in a thick, long sleeved outfit which indicated that he was keeping his weight on the fringes of 130 right up to the official weigh-in rather than having to shed off excess pounds hours before. Pacquiao, in contrast, is a natural featherweight and is likely to come in maybe even a pound under the super featherweight limit which enables him to eat what he likes without the mental agony of worrying about whether he would make the weight.
The whole issue of weight and size points to the reality that on fight night Morales is likely to come into the ring as a junior welterweight giving him an advantage which he is expected to exploit in terms of punching power. Simply put Pacquiao’s blows may not have the same telling effect as they would have on a natural super featherweight. Beyond that when Morales throws a punch it would carry the full weight of around 142 –144 pounds and not 130. That could make a difference. However, the lightning speed of Pacquiao and the ferocity of his punches which come in flurries is bound to more than offset whatever additional power Morales may have when they engage each other in the expected furious exchanges.
Morales has an excellent jab and a solid right hand whereas Pacquiao has often relied solely on the power of his devastating left. Trainer Freddie Roach has realized that this won’t do and has been paying special attention to Pacquiao’s right, working on three-punch combinations which he provided a glimpse of in his sixth round KO of Hector Velazquez last September 11.
Indeed that fight card “Double Trouble” showed that if any one had trouble it was Morales who was overweight, out of shape and unable to handle the quickness of Zahir Raheem and lost in rather embarrassing fashion. Roach and Pacquiao learned something from the Raheem fight and have worked that into Pacquiao’s arsenal. But Morales is a three-time world champion who has the tenacity and the will to come back from the edge of adversity. Whenever he is written off as down, Morales picks himself up and battles back like a true champion.
Pacquiao will surely carry the fight to Morales from the opening bell and not allow Morales to back him up as he did in their first fight where the Filipino southpaw looked awkward going backwards because he is unable to punch while doing this. Pacquiao is also bound to go for the big body shots which hurt Morales in the first round of their initial encounter but which Pacquiao inexplicably abandoned. Roach knows that Morales doesn’t like getting hit in the body. Look to Pacquiao to dart in and out with flurries, using his hand and foot speed to befuddle Morales who, on the other hand, may himself decide to attack right away and grab the initiative from the “Pacman.”
Morales appears to have had a superior roster of sparring partners in terms of credentials than Pacquiao and the fact that six of them were southpaws like Pacquiao showed how serious Morales is about the rematch. Both fighters and their trainers have kept their sessions private in an effort to prevent unnecessary distractions and more importantly to prevent scouting reports filtering out to the opposing camp.
If anybody provided a clue as to how this fight might be different from the first it was Top Rank promoter Bob Arum when he told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Morales “fought Pacquiao a certain way. He may change up and fight him a different way.”
As the winner of their first battle Morales is likely to see what Pacquiao learned from that fight and what he does differently. Morales has said “lets see whether he modifies his game plan and tries to box this time knowing that it might complicate things for me.” But Morales read Pacquiao’s mind perfectly when he said “he likes to exchange power punches.” Question is can Pacquiao keep his composure, fight according to a plan and innovate if he must as the fight goes on.
Much will also depend on Pacquiao’s corner which was in shambles in the first fight with too many people getting into the act and only serving to confuse Pacquiao.. Roach, and Roach alone must assert himself in-between rounds and let Pacquiao’s fists do the talking. Pacquiao’s handlers must also ensure that the great Julio Cesar Chavez is not allowed to leave his seat which was conveniently placed near Morales’ corner in the last fight and shout out instructions to “El Terrible” because that is clearly against the rules and patently unfair.
That only served to provide an insight into Arum's influence in Las Vegas. The bottom line is can Pacquiao overcome the influence of Arum in Las Vegas, the minds of two judges Paul Smith and Dave Moretti who will decide the outcome once again if it goes to the scorecards as they did the last time in favor of Morales. Or can Pacquiao’s fists of fury turn judges and referee Kenny Bayless into incidental spectators and fulfill promoter Gary Shaw’s prediction of a tenth round knockout or will Morales return fire once again and win not just the battle but the war of the big guns in boxing.
