What Were Key Factors in Erik Morales beating Pacquiao?

[Ekscape]

That was a different Pacquiao then the one we know today... That was a one handed no defense comefoward no thinking Pacquiao...

[miron_lang]

You're all kidding yourselves if you don't think the gloves played a role. It was completely different when Morales started getting hit with Reyes gloves as opposed to the pillows they put on him for the first fight.

The gloves makes a world of difference. Anyone who has followed boxing knows this. That's why there are huge arguments over gloves in every fight contract nowadays. It's why Oscar makes his opponents wear certain gloves like he did with Mayweather. The gloves matter.

Absolutely.

Why would promoters/Managers stipulate the gloves to wear in contracts if it doesn't matter? That's very elementary.

[alexpz]

Erik Morales won the first fight because Manny didn't wear his favorite socks. lolz..

[rao007]

again

first Morales fight was Pac's debut at 130

if you were in Pac's shoes, would you agree to a rematch again by jumpin another division in favor of him?

I think people forget that. If Pacquiao would'v asked Marquez to move up to 135 in their rematch because he struggled making 130. EVERYBODY would criticizing Pacquiao trying to get advantages.

[miron_lang]

that 1st fight really helped pac improve immensely
he learned his pure physical strength wouldnt always be enough

....amen.....

[Fox McCloud]

name a current contender, and we'll pick apart all of his fights too

I'll do it for you with a couple of my favorite fighters:

Winky Wright - biggest wins: Mosley (X2), Trinidad, Quartey
Mosley - Not a great 154 pound fighter, outside of his weight class.
Trinidad - The Joppy fight proved him as a good middleweight, but after his long layoff post-retirement, it took him forever to take Mayorga out... he was pretty shot.
Quartey - What about that fight makes you think that Quartey has any business fighting at middleweight?

Paul Williams - biggest wins: Matthysse, Mitchell, Margarito, Quintana, Phillips, Wright
Matthysse - Undefeated prospect... in reality, he ****ing sucks.
Mitchell - Shot X1,000,000.
Margarito - A pretty good win overall, not a lot of bad things to say about this one, other than that he is limited as a fighter.
Quintana - A one round KO doesn't make up for a lopsided 12 round comprehensive face****ing... A third fight is really needed to settle this.
Phillips - Mediocre... at best.
Wright - 21 month layoff, plus, his best days are behind him.

The ugly truth is that it's hard to beat a top fighter decisively, and those wins just don't come along very often.

[Glamour Puss]

Erik Morales is just a better boxer thats all.

Pac is not unbeatable.

[BOLLOCKS]

again

first Morales fight was Pac's debut at 130

if you were in Pac's shoes, would you agree to a rematch again by jumpin another division in favor of him?

Barrera's first fight at 130 was also against Morales. That doesn't change the fact that Morales was weight drained in the rematch with Pac.

[Fox McCloud]

Erik Morales is just a better boxer thats all.

Pac is not unbeatable.

Lol, the current Pac is a better boxer than Erik Morales technically.

Do you not remember Guty Espadas (apparently) getting robbed against Morales? I didn't see it that way, but the entire world seems to think that Espadas got screwed against Morales.

[tesla_power]

jab and chin, pretty much.............and prime morales' chin and overall toughness were unbreakable.......thats why prime terrible always beats pac imo......pac usuallly shy's away from the heat when he gets hit back........

True on the first fight. On the 2nd, he probably realized he can take Erik's punch and proceeded to dig it to the body even though Morales is gaining the rounds. He fought less on the backfoot for the 2nd and 3rd fight. I think the strategy of going forward and investing on body punches won him those KO victories.

But, IMO, prime Erik would get beaten by prime Pac.