Pacquiao KO’s Solis in 8, Who’s Next?
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 15 Apr 2007
San Antonio, Texas -- Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, tonight at the Alamodome in this historic Texas city, KO’d Jorge Solis of Mexico after 8 short rounds to retain his WBC International Super featherweight title.
Pacquiao, fighting after a shortened training period of merely three weeks at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood did what everybody has predicted. He KO’d Solis and in effect gave the Mexican pug, his very first taste of defeat. Solis record thus now read as 32-1-2 (23KO)
Solis, who for lack of a better choice, was Bob Arum’s main selection to fight Pacquiao. Solis however, though hyped to the high heavens by Arum (Arum said he was 5’10” when in reality he was only 5’8”) was not in the same level of Pacquiao. Justin Fortune, Freddie Roach’ sidekick was absolutely right! Pacquiao is in the triple A class whereas Solis is a mere A class.
With his victory over Solis, Pacquiao has sealed his reputation as the “Mexican Assassin.” He badly defeated Marco Antonio Barrera via a 11th round TKO; he knocked Juan Manuel Marquez down three times in round one before ultimately settling for a controversial draw; he beat Eric Morales in two out of three fights, one by KO and another by TKO; knocked down Oscar Larios in round 7 and 12 before finally easing to a 12 round UD; he KO’d Hector Velasquez in 6 rounds; TKO’d Emmanuel Lucero in 3 rounds
and TKO’d Gabriel Mira in 4.
Arum’s build-up of Solis was in reality nothing but a mere hard sell to drum up a bigger paying audience so he can pay his promised purse to the Filipino boxing icon. True enough, more than 14,000 people showed up at the Alamodome.
Referee Drakulich (center) counts at Jorge Solis who lies on the canvas as Manny Pacquiao looks while Pacquiao's supporters are jubilant on the background. Photo by Dr. Ed de la Vega.
Solis, could probably have done better with the other Pacquiao, Bobby Pacquiao. He did not win a round from the Pacman in spite of his reputation as an undefeated fighter and his promise to fight differently from all the other Mexicans who fought and lost to Pacquiao in the past.
Pacquiao’s KO victory according to the rumors circulating amongst the Filipinos here in attendance was thought to be an indication that he wanted to get this fight over with as early as possible so he can switch his full attention to another task at hand, his candidacy for the congressional seat in the 2nd district of South Cotobato. But, during dinner back at his hotel suite after the fight with few privileged friends and supporters, Pacquiao indicated that he was having fun and wanted to prolong the fight to make his fans enjoy more. However, a cut from a head butt changed his plan. It was then that he decided to end the fight as quick as possible. And, he did.
Will his KO victory over Jorge Solis be a prelude to what he will do to the incumbent lady congress person, Darlene Antonino-Custodio?
We await the verdict from the people of the 1nd district of South Cotobato.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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