Post by LJ on Nov 19, 2006 12:02:30 GMT -5
Pacquiao too much vs Morales, stops foe in 3rd
So Pacquiao wasted no time, came out to rumble with Erik Morales and ended the fight the way most people wanted him to – a knockout.
The fight erupted with flurry and excitement much more than their first two meetings even if the fight lasted for less than nine minutes.
Slugging it out in front of a crowd of 18,276 – the second-biggest in the arena’s history — and millions of fight fans around the globe who tuned in to watch the game live or slightly delayed, both fighters traded punches right from the opening bell.
Morales had his moments, landing several good combinations against Pacquiao, who only shook off those hits thrown at him.
But the Filipino’s punches were more devastating and it was felt clearly by the Mexican in the second round.
With both boxers busy exchanging punches, Morales sent Pacquiaoto the ropes ready to punish him with a barrage of heavy blows.
All Pacquiao needed was to sneak a jarring left to the jaw that sent Morales down late in the second round.
The Mexican quickly got up and the two went at it again as the bell sounded.
Morales, who attended the first press conference of this fight more than 160 lbs., but underwent a rigid training with Velocity Sports and running in the mountains Otami, appeared to be in good condition and ready to mix it up with Pacquiao, a film, music and boxing star rolled into one.
Little did he know he won’t last long.
Engaging Morales once more in a blow by blow match in the second round, Pacquiao set up his vicious left and his right hook that knocked Morales down for the second time.
When Morales stood up with his knees getting weaken, Pacquiao sensed he will have to go for the kill.
The end came 2:57 of the third when Pacquiao launched at the retreating Morales with a solid left that totally knocked the spirits out of the former three-time champion.
Morales sat there for few seconds, but shook his head as a sign of giving up as Pacquiao, his cornermen and the thousands of Filipinos who attended there savored the victory.
“I thought it was going to be a long fight, but it was a good fight — more action,” said Pacquiao, who improved his win-loss record to 43-3 with 33 knockouts, two of them came against Morales.
Morales absorbed his fifth setback, his fourth in the last five bouts and the future Hall of Famer. He has mulled a possible retirement – and the possibility of moving up at a higher weight division.
“He was coming to me, and he was not able to handle me,” Pacquiao said. “I felt so much stronger than him. I was prepared to fight the best of Morales.”
In triumph, Pacquiao went to the corner of Morales, thanked him and his dad for the classic fights and the rivalry that was made to become one of the best third encounters in the history of sport.
Morales won their first bout in March 2005, stunning and bloodying Pacquiao — but Pacquiao battered Morales repeatedly last January, bruising his face and body before dropping him twice in the 10th round for the first TKO loss of Morales’ career.
Pacquiao, who gained 15 pounds after making weight Friday at 129, was guaranteed $3 million for the match. Morales will get at least $2.75 million.
“For the first time in my career, I actually felt the power of an opponent like I’ve never felt it before,” said Morales, who also lost two of three fights in his previous trilogy against Marco Antonio Barrera.
“I was hurt by the power of his punches, and maybe it’s time to think about not doing this anymore. I had a great career. Maybe it is time.”
So Pacquiao wasted no time, came out to rumble with Erik Morales and ended the fight the way most people wanted him to – a knockout.
The fight erupted with flurry and excitement much more than their first two meetings even if the fight lasted for less than nine minutes.
Slugging it out in front of a crowd of 18,276 – the second-biggest in the arena’s history — and millions of fight fans around the globe who tuned in to watch the game live or slightly delayed, both fighters traded punches right from the opening bell.
Morales had his moments, landing several good combinations against Pacquiao, who only shook off those hits thrown at him.
But the Filipino’s punches were more devastating and it was felt clearly by the Mexican in the second round.
With both boxers busy exchanging punches, Morales sent Pacquiaoto the ropes ready to punish him with a barrage of heavy blows.
All Pacquiao needed was to sneak a jarring left to the jaw that sent Morales down late in the second round.
The Mexican quickly got up and the two went at it again as the bell sounded.
Morales, who attended the first press conference of this fight more than 160 lbs., but underwent a rigid training with Velocity Sports and running in the mountains Otami, appeared to be in good condition and ready to mix it up with Pacquiao, a film, music and boxing star rolled into one.
Little did he know he won’t last long.
Engaging Morales once more in a blow by blow match in the second round, Pacquiao set up his vicious left and his right hook that knocked Morales down for the second time.
When Morales stood up with his knees getting weaken, Pacquiao sensed he will have to go for the kill.
The end came 2:57 of the third when Pacquiao launched at the retreating Morales with a solid left that totally knocked the spirits out of the former three-time champion.
Morales sat there for few seconds, but shook his head as a sign of giving up as Pacquiao, his cornermen and the thousands of Filipinos who attended there savored the victory.
“I thought it was going to be a long fight, but it was a good fight — more action,” said Pacquiao, who improved his win-loss record to 43-3 with 33 knockouts, two of them came against Morales.
Morales absorbed his fifth setback, his fourth in the last five bouts and the future Hall of Famer. He has mulled a possible retirement – and the possibility of moving up at a higher weight division.
“He was coming to me, and he was not able to handle me,” Pacquiao said. “I felt so much stronger than him. I was prepared to fight the best of Morales.”
In triumph, Pacquiao went to the corner of Morales, thanked him and his dad for the classic fights and the rivalry that was made to become one of the best third encounters in the history of sport.
Morales won their first bout in March 2005, stunning and bloodying Pacquiao — but Pacquiao battered Morales repeatedly last January, bruising his face and body before dropping him twice in the 10th round for the first TKO loss of Morales’ career.
Pacquiao, who gained 15 pounds after making weight Friday at 129, was guaranteed $3 million for the match. Morales will get at least $2.75 million.
“For the first time in my career, I actually felt the power of an opponent like I’ve never felt it before,” said Morales, who also lost two of three fights in his previous trilogy against Marco Antonio Barrera.
“I was hurt by the power of his punches, and maybe it’s time to think about not doing this anymore. I had a great career. Maybe it is time.”
