Patrick Kehoe: Morales is my pick
By TSS Predictions January 16th, 2006Patrick Kehoe offers his analysis of this weekend’s rematch between Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao …
Erik Morales is convinced he’s the stronger, more technically proficient, fighter. Manny Pacquiao believes he’s prepared to fight a much more effective fight this time around. Aside from something unforeseen related to the weigh-in, ala Gatti-Gamache or Castillo-Corrales II, Morales is my pick to win the rematch with Manny Pacquiao. The Morales jab and his ability to counter with the right hand put the southpaw Pacquiao in a situation where he had to counterpunch more than he liked. Pacquiao’s natural aggression played right into Morales’ strength – a humming lead jab, hard hooks to the body after scorching straight right hands. As a general principle, the straighter Morales punches off the counter the more consistently he scores. Against Barrera Morales’ punches tended to arch more, against Pacquiao they tended to get straight down the power alley. Look for some dangerous moments, perhaps for both fighters, and Morales being the better ‘catcher’ finds an advantage in any situation that comes down to all out aggression balanced against the ability to absorb punishment. In a fight that goes the distance look for Morales to box, counter, punish and stand in when necessary for a unanimous decision, intermittently relying on his legendary chin to hold up against Pacquiao’s rocketing left cross.
Patrick Kehoe writes for The Sweet Science. To read more of his work
January 22nd, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Could you please write another commentary about the pacman-El Terrible rematch? I have read all your speculations and predictions. Nobody guessed the outcome of the fight right. What could have happened? Was it really a convincing win by the pacman? Why did Eric Morales tell the press that he was not having a hard time trimming down to 130 lbs, while he mentioned in an interview after the fight that he had trouble reaching the weight limit? Was he telling a lie when he was interviewed before? Did the pacman really deserve the full credit of winning convincingly?
Thanks for your time.
January 23rd, 2006 at 11:43 am
Carlos,
when are you going to be convinced of pac-man? He has destroyed Barrera. He destroyed Morales. A 100% Pac-Man is the devil in boxing gloves.
Gracias!
January 23rd, 2006 at 3:00 pm
The legendary chin may have held up but the body sure came crumbling down!
January 23rd, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Better luck next time, You got the wrong pick. At least you are not alone, you join the many boxing analysts who picked the wrong guy on that day. Mabuhay ka Pacman!!!
January 23rd, 2006 at 11:18 pm
Pacquiao was better prepared and ultimately wanted this fight more. He learned from his mistakes in the first fight, and adjusted accordingly. Morales didn’t seem to adjust during the fight, preferring to counter-punch and hoping pacquiao would resort to his past style of haymaker-lefts. Everyone picked eric morales in the later rounds, but Pacquiao looked stronger and stronger as the fight went on. Pacquiao also controlled the tempo of the fight, remaining at the center of the ring and stalking Morales throughout. When all is said and done, Pacquiao knocked Morales out, and that’s what people will remember.
January 24th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
sorry for the wrong pick,maybe next time you will got it right.Morale maybe is the best boxer before.Barera maybe is the best boxer before.Before Pacman both of them is floored by Pacman now.They are kissing the canvass.Look what happen to Pacman’s oponent after after the fight?Both Barera and Morales.Morales win over Pacman in the first encounter is not convincing!!!!
January 25th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
i just don’t know why most of you did wrong in predicting the outcome of the fight. imagine 9-2 only Robert Cassidy and Rick Folstad gave pacman UD, in other words a benefit of a doubt. i know you didn’t give him full respect. i hope by now you will learn the lesson in the art of SweetScience. don’t judge a fighter by mainly with what his performance the first fight with the same opponent, but the heart and the will to win.
please be fair and just next time, thanks.
die-hard Pacman fan since his early days in the PI. If you saw his fight before, this would have been a different column.
February 19th, 2006 at 5:57 am
HANDS OF GOD - Manny TKO or destroys continously most of the best fighters in the world like Antonio Barera, Eric, Morales, Marquez with his extra ordinary LEFT POWERFUL PUNCH -we can see they are hurt, shocked, surprised, scared, hammered- any fighter or boxer , how champion they are, once they are hit by Mannys LEFT PUNCH POWER - they loss the game. Because they dont have this super left power punch that’s Mannys secret - THE HANDS OF GOD- given to him by the anito & diwatas. Manny will continue winning…..coz he is a good guy and always prays thats why GOD LEND HIS LEFT HAND TO MANNY TO WIN ALL HIS FIGHTS……
November 11th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
it doesn’t matter how better boxer erik morales is. erik doesn’t have the power that can hurt pac. if he cant hurt pac, pac will keep coming forward. if morales can stand pac’s power punches then erik has a chance to win unanimous. if not, then it will be like the second fight and since pac has improved his punching skills lately the fight may not last long. pac in under 7th round.