ENRAGED PACQUIAO KO’S SOLIS IN EIGHTH ROUND
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 15 Apr 2007
Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao, the reigning WBC International super featherweight champion ended the undefeated streak of gangling Mexican Jorge Solis with a smashing knockout in the eighth round that proved, once again, the devastating punching power of the “Pacman.”
Looking to score an impressive win and at the same time entertain fight fans, Pacquiao and his avid supporters were also hoping that a win would tilt voters preference in the May elections for the lone congressional seat of South Cotabato where Pacquiao is challenging incumbent Darlene Antonino Custodio who is considered a formidable opponent. In fact his supporters waved a Philippine flag with the words “Vote Manny” which was what opposition lawyer Sixto Brillantes had warned the Comelec about.
Pacquiao who had a serious look on his face as he entered the ring in stark contrast to his past appearances where he smiled and looked relaxed was greeted by boos from the predominantly pro-Mexican crowd of 14,793 which was well below the sell-out crowd that promoter Bob Arum had expected. Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach who flew in from Puerto Rico to work in Pacquiao’s corner walked behind Pacquiao with conditioning expert Justin Fortune on Pacquiao’s right. The fans gave Solis a huge welcome as he smiled broadly during his entrance. But in the end Pacquiao wiped the grin off Solis’ face with a brutal series of combinations that put Solis down and out for the count at 1:16 of the eighth round.
Pacquiao appeared befuddled at times by the awkward style of Solis who used his height and reach to advantage in the early rounds while Pacquiao fought in flurries often lunging forward with his left. The turning point appeared to be the sixth round when Pacquiao suffered a nasty cut below his left eyebrow due to an accidental head-butt. In order not to allow Solis to gain confidence after that and be the aggressor, Pacquiao launched a rapid assault against the Mexican.
The cut probably revived memories of what happened in his first epic battle with legendary Mexican Erik “El Terrible” Morales driving Pacquiao to take no chances. Pacquiao rocked Solis and went after him with fists of fury. Pacquiao continued his brutal assault although the Mexican fought back gamely and connected with a couple of solid shots of his own. However, Pacquiao nailed him with a cracking left-right combination towards the end of round seven in which Solis was saved by the bell.
Pacquiao dropped Solis with a vicious flurry early in the eighth round and although the game Mexican beat the count the end was clearly near as Pacquiao pounced on him with a series of wicked punches that sent him sprawling on the canvas and under the ropes to be counted out.
In a post fight interview telecast by Solar Sports over GMA 7 which carried the “Blaze of Glory” fight card on a delayed basis, Pacquiao said that when he suffered a cut in the sixth round he realized he had to “throw more combinations and pressure him to knock him out.” Pacquiao said Solis was groggy after he hurt him and was saved by the bell in round seven. He knew then that he would knock him out.
With the win Pacquiao improved to 44-3-2 with 34 knockouts while Solis who suffered the first blemish on his undefeated record dropped to 32-1-2 with 23 KO’s.
Pacquiao said that he is looking forward to a rematch with reigning super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez or former champion Marco Antonio Barrera whom he demolished in November 2003 at the same venue to carve a name for himself and have fight fans and boxing media sit up and take notice of the most exciting fighter in the world today.
Solis later admitted that Pacquiao was “very fast, very quick and I didn’t see those punches” but he downplayed even insulted the Filipino’s recognized punching power saying “my wife hits harder.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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