Was Erik Morales in his prime for the 2nd and 3rd Pac fights?

[IMDAZED]

Morales always had problems making weight in any fights in the past. I mean he had weight issues as early as the 122 against Barrera (first fight). But his limit was definitely at SFW. He was never goin' to be a good LW. He looked slow and bloated at LW.

Yes, but he couldn't make 130 anymore. He had already moved up. Think about it. And moved up right after the second bout. He begged for a catchweight. He looked so bad at the weigh-in it was downright frightening. No need to sugarcoat it. There's a difference between having trouble making weight and being emaciated.

[mikemurni]

Ok, so in other words you agree with the TS.

Of course I agree that he was not in his prime in the second fight. I never said he was. But definitely he was still an elite fighter and one of the top fighters in the 2nd fight. But I disagree when people keep refering to the Zahir fight as if that was start of Morales decline.

Morales was the same fighter when Pac fought him in the first and second fight. He was definitely shot in the rubbermatch. But Pac took that fight because he was contractually obligated to take a third fight.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

[IMDAZED]

Then why should he have fought Raheem? He stayed at 130 where he belonged and took out the number 2 guy in the division.

As easily as Miguel Cotto can move down to 145 for a fight is as easy as Raheem could've moved down to 132-133.

There were many skeptics wether they were Morales fans, Pacquiao haters, **** riders, that thought style wise Morales had Pac's number.

In the end, we know who was right and who was wrong. Even without hindsight, the idea that someone losing 12-0 deserves a PPV headliner in his next bout is as ludicrous as Roy Jones still getting the Hopkins fight after losing by first round KO.

Because he was drained. I'm not saying it was a great win. I'm agreeing with what you said earlier that it was a good win.

Fair enough, friend.

[IMDAZED]

Of course I agree that he was not in his prime in the second fight. I never said he was. But definitely he was still an elite fighter and one of the top fighters in the 2nd fight. But I disagree when people keep refering to the Zahir fight as if that was start of Morales decline.

Morales was the same fighter when Pac fought him in the first and second fight. He was definitely shot in the rubbermatch. But Pac took that fight because he was contractually obligated to take a third fight.

I don't believe he was elite at all. The last time he looked elite was against Pac the first time - like Jones versus Ruiz it was all downhill from there. He never looked elite again. beginning with Raheem. End of story.

[Khalid X]

my biggest problem in all of this is that you guys won't let Pac have his moment to save your lives and it looks pathetic. Man It's like watching a little kid get mad that someone took a toy he never played with or ever had any interest in. Only thing is ya'll are grown men displaying this childish, hateful behavior....smh

[mikemurni]

Yes, but he couldn't make 130 anymore. He had already moved up. Think about it. And moved up right after the second bout. He begged for a catchweight. He looked so bad at the weigh-in it was downright frightening. No need to sugarcoat it. There's a difference between having trouble making weight and being emaciated.

Morales was dehydrated in the weigh in but he rehydrated just fine at fight night. I mean he was even winning the first few rounds. A dehydrated fighter would have never fought that way, and in that pace for at least 6 rounds.

Pac has just moved up at 130, a few fights back. There was no way he was going to go up again considering that people were already sayin that he should have stayed at 126..

[IMDAZED]

@ people worried about the next man's moment. Like Pac's day is ruined cuz he reads NSB. Lord have mercy.

[IMDAZED]

Morales was dehydrated in the weigh in but he rehydrated just fine at fight night. I mean he was even winning the first few rounds. A dehydrated fighter would have never fought that way, and in that pace for at least 6 rounds.

Pac has just moved up at 130, a few fights back. There was no way he was going to go up again considering that people were already sayin that he should have stayed at 126..

Mike, you're wrong. A fighter who badly drains himself and rehydrates is usually very strong early (because of the water weight) then sluggish thereafter (for the same reason). I too, gave Morales a good shot in the rematch but when I saw his legs in the middle rounds (after seeing him at the weigh-in), I knew what was going on.

I don't think anyone thought Pac should move to 130. But fighting Morales again? After he just got shutout? Ehh, I guess we all have different standards. Then a third time? Hey, people paid for it, right?

[ADP02]

If you'd like to discuss a particular fight of Floyd's feel free to create a thread about it. I'm not on this thread to discuss this because it is absolutely irrelevant. I'm not discrediting Manny because Morales was past his prime. Morales wasn't past his prime, he was at the end of his career and was a badly weight drained fighter. And it showed in his performance. Take from that what you will. If you think it was a great win, more power to you. I think it was a good win, nothing more. Especially since, in his last fight, he had been outboxed, outbrawled and basically embarrassed by Zahir Raheem.

Well, of late, if it has to do with Manny, it is usually a Manny vs Floyd thread. So its not irrelevant. When Floyd fought Diego, Diego was also weight drained but according to Floyd fans that was FLoyd's best win!!!

Raheem fought at a higher weight class. You need to take into account that it was basically Morales's first time at that weight and that maybe, just maybe, he couldn't take his usual advantages into that weight class. Prior to that, Morales had only lost close controversial fights to Barrera.