Matt Aguilar: Morales rebounds in typical fashion
By TSS Predictions January 18th, 2006Erik Morales obviously went into the Zahir Raheem fight with a big head. He figured Raheem wasn’t in his class, and trained like it. The result was the worst performance of his career. But he didn’t take a beating, and was in a lightweight class that was completely unfamiliar to him. He’ll rebound in typical Morales fashion in the Manny Pacquiao rematch. He is reported to be in tremendous shape, and he will be determined to knock off the stain of the Raheem debacle. He is taller and bigger than Pacquiao, and it was apparent in the original fight that Pac-Man doesn’t have the punch at 130 pounds to hurt Morales. He’ll counter Pacquiao’s strong rushes and back him up with harder punches. No reason to think this one will be any different, as a reinvigorated “El Terrible” repeats his unanimous decision victory.
Matthew Aguilar writes for the El Paso Times and The Sweet Science. To read more of his work
January 21st, 2006 at 1:01 am
We’ll just wait & see who’ll win this !!!!!!!!!
January 22nd, 2006 at 1:23 am
Errr… who knocked down Morales for the first time in his career? PACQUIAO! Please ask Morales whether Manny’s punches did not hurt him.
January 22nd, 2006 at 3:01 am
When you’re not b****ing about Manny’s “time running out,” you’re singing praises for your boy Erik Morales. Unfortunately for you, the 2nd fight is very different from the first.
When can we expect your excuses for “El Terrible” to begin?
January 22nd, 2006 at 7:23 am
He is taller and bigger than Pacquiao, and it was apparent in the original fight that Pac-Man doesn’t have the punch at 130 pounds to hurt Morales. He’ll counter Pacquiao’s strong rushes and back him up with harder punches. No reason to think this one will be any different, as a reinvigorated “El Terrible� repeats his unanimous decision victory.
The result went the other way around didn’t it? morales ate manny’s punches… manny’s punches were so hard that he kissed the canvas coz of it…
January 22nd, 2006 at 12:16 pm
man..seems you’ve been proven wrong..not only was Morales beaten, he also got to lose by KO, a first in his great career.
January 22nd, 2006 at 8:10 pm
say what?!!
El Terrible really looks like TERRIBLE from receiving Pacquiao’s punches! and now, Erik got the taste of mexico’s Cleto Reyes from Pacman’s hands!
January 22nd, 2006 at 10:21 pm
NOW WHO SAYS GLOVES DONT MATTER?!
WHO SAYS PACQUIAO IS A 5 out of 10 BOXER!?!
WHO KISSED THE MAT TWICE?!
WHO’s NEXT?!
January 23rd, 2006 at 3:35 am
Hey, this is planet earth, you are entitled to your opinion. But I just want to say to you and to the other experts who favor and predicted Morales to win againts Pacquio that you missed the point ,to what this magazine/web site stands for “SWEET SCIENCE” and thats what boxing all about!!! And that what happened to Morales. Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach was able to polish the the art and sciience of boxing to beat (up) Morales. And you failed to recognize, the determination of a human spirit to prevail against all odds, Manny has that kind of heart.
January 23rd, 2006 at 4:15 am
hey matt, based on your comments on Paquiao you must be eating your words right now.
January 23rd, 2006 at 10:46 pm
You are WRONG matt. Hope you do well next time. Your only consolation is that you join among the many boxing analysts in the industry who predicted wrongly of a Morales victory via decision. At least you are not alone. Better luck next time.
January 23rd, 2006 at 10:47 pm
“I could see he (Erik Morales) was having problems taking my punches. I had no problem taking his. He never hurt me. I could take his power. I was able to land a lot more different punches this time. I saw that every time I hit him to the body he would stop punching, so I knew he was hurt. I was still careful because he has great power.” - Manny Pacquiao
Hey Matt Aguilar! Don’t you think these are great words from a great humble fighter, huh?
January 23rd, 2006 at 11:59 pm
hey matt, the next time you predict a fight like morales and pacquiao made sure you consult a fortune teller here in the philippines, coz they all predicted a pacquiao victory, look man, what pacquiao did to all the mexican boxers he encountered, they have one thing in common, they all kiss the canvas really really sweet. that’s the power of our man!!!!!!
January 24th, 2006 at 1:22 am
hello matt are you still there!!!! whew!!! have you watch the movie with a title of The Legends Falls!!!!!! that’s what pacman did to all the legendary fighters of mexico, they all fall to the canvas, and still you won’t believe, oh man” bring up the next contender pls, line up barrera and marquez so that we will know who will be kissing the canvas again!!!!!!
January 24th, 2006 at 1:56 am
too bad Matt, wrong prediction but it’s ok there’s always a 2nd, 3rd, 4th…….chance. you can write again your good stuff in the next PACMAN encounter … maybe you see the reinvigorated barrera or marquez beating the one-dimmensional manny who always relies on his left hand and doesn’t know how to box like great fighters.
just a tip Matt, always consider the unseen factors like heart & passion in winning big fights.
January 24th, 2006 at 9:04 am
the first time they fought, morales’ camp had done everything to force pacman to wear the Winning Gloves and they succeeded. and what do you think is the reason why? they know that only pacquiao can knock out morales with his reyes gloves. now with the tremendous punishment morales absorbed, will you still say that pacman doesn’t have the punch at 130 to hurt morales???
PACMAN RULES!!!!!
January 24th, 2006 at 10:34 am
Say what.?
Pacquiao’s punches cant hurt Morales..? i think your absolutely wrong.. Pacquiao’s punches did hurt Morales sending him down to the kissing canvas for the first time (that barrera KO doesnt count) in his career, twice in the same round taking the beating of a lifetime…. making him QUIT…!!!!! haha….
I think Morales is in good shape entering the fight so please dont make a lame excuse that morales is tired because of the weightloss he has taken entering the fight.. i think he is in the same form when he entered the ring last Jan 21 as he was last march… Proving only that PACQUIAO is the BEST SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT in the world, he’s not the CHAMP because those COWARD MEXICANS wont accept his challenge..
PLS send me a copy of your EXCUSES fot EL TERRIBLE, he badly needs it……. I wanna hear it from you personally… ALSO please post this message…. It
January 24th, 2006 at 11:32 am
“He’ll rebound in typical Morales fashion in the Manny Pacquiao rematch.”
Funny. The only rebound that I saw from Erik is when he rebounded from the referree in Round 6, and when he rebounded from the canvas in Round 10. Both of which emanated from PacMan’s Reyes gloves.
January 24th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
in fairness to chris, i read his past column. he’s good and trying to stay in the middle. although other fans could still see the pom poms.
January 24th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
If I’m going to rate these boxers. Morales, Barrera and Marquez: they are 5 out of 10 against Pacman … and it has been proven, it’s not a prediction.
January 25th, 2006 at 5:04 am
well first of all im so proud of filipino’s all over the world supporting an upcoming boxer,and on saturday he has proven he is on top of his weight class knockin down any1 on his way,not winning by decision or losing by decision(meaning he knocks mofo’s out=)).well on top of that we shouldnt flame matt, alam nyo na tanga yan eh ano pinagsasasabing matatalo nauubusan ng oras,yaan nyo na matatangal na sa trabajo yan dis week,ang tanga kasi eh =)) ey keep it down low aite =)) ey barrera where u gonna hide now?dnt be scurd its only pacman =)) yo critics r out there n people who writes these columns makes mistakes but i have to say, dat was a terrible column n prediction.ill b looking for ur nxt prediction matt so wat do u say about the gatti n damgaard fight,mosley n vargas,left hook lacy n calzahge (who keeps running away)nxt 1 should b hard castillo n rolando reyes =)) can u post ur predictions coz i wanna make money =))
January 25th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
your prediction was so accurate. i couldn’t recognized his face (morales) he took all the power punches from pacman.
not only that he also kissed the canvas.
January 25th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Hey matt learn your lesson! Science should be backed up with a lot of research. Judging from one match alone does not guarantee efficiency.
January 25th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
hahaha, your all wrong!!! What did morales. Where is morales now!
January 26th, 2006 at 3:53 am
There is now a common denominator for all three great Mexican legends Barrera, Marquez, and Morales. All three have kissed the canvass in the hands of Manny Pacquiao.
I will still await your predictions on Manny’s future fights.
In fact, I’ll be drooling to read them.
January 26th, 2006 at 5:20 am
Hey Matt I hope you already got the point… Where you at?? knockedout?? Naaahh… Looks like Matt kissed the mat…
January 26th, 2006 at 7:57 am
The good thing on Manny Pacquiao is he still acknowledged the strength and skill of Morales, if every Filipino words he made in local interviews could be released internationally, I promise, you will learn to love this boy.
January 26th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
Matt, i don’t know if you’re Mexican or what. Obviously, you have this liking for Morales based on your commentaries. But you should know when a better fighter(like Pacquiao) comes along and give credit for the guy for totally outclassing your dear Morales. I have Mexican roots too, but I play it fair for the sport. Pacman is the man right now and there’s nothing more embarrassing for us Mexicans than having three of our lenegdary boxers kiss the canvas one after the other. The Filipinos have great fighters too, and now is there time for boxing glory. Let’s give it to them and stop making pathetic excuses for our fallen “legends”.
January 27th, 2006 at 5:42 am
Hey Matt, I agree with you.. Morales is a great and is still a great fighter. It’s just that pacquiao is even greater… morales can still win over other boxers.. but not againts Manny. If you are still in doubt on how strong Pacquiao’s punches really are, I suggest you talk to Barrera.. or Marquez… ask them how come they landed on the canvas. Or better yet, ask Pacquiao to give you a demonstration. The first time they fought, Manny had a cut (from an accidental head butt, in fairness to Eric) directly above his right eye. Of course he had trouble seeing and defending againts jabs and punches from Eric. But he lasted the 12 rounds. And he even almost KOd Eric. But Eric was not able to KO Manny inspite of the cut. What does that tell you man? You don’t have to be an expert to aswer that.
Think about this Matthew… Pacquiao knocked down the Great Antonio Barrera and the Invincible Marquez before. And that was before Manny improved his defense and style. What would happen to them if they face Manny now with his better style and defense? And of course Pacquiao’s strong punches. Face it man.. nobody hits as hard as Manny. Eric gave his best punches even on Manny’s face. And Manny took them all. It is Eric who cannot take Manny’s punches.
Thank you and more power to you.
January 27th, 2006 at 10:39 am
It’s been almost a week and people just can’t seem to let go of the Pacquiao Victory. What a great feeling. By the way, how’s your foot Matt? Still stuck in your mouth? My advice, don’t wear shoes when you shove your foot inside your mouth again.