AFTER WIN OVER MORALES, PACQUIAO TO REST
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 23 Jan 2006
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA--After re-writing history by becoming the first man to knock out Erik "El Terrible" Morales yesterday, Filipino icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao aims to cool his heels for a much-needed rest following his titanic battle with the Mexican idol.
Pacquiao, working behind a big heart and big punches, scored a technical knockout victory over Morales at the 2:33 mark of the 10th round at the jampacked Thomas and Mack Center here.
"I want to return to my country first, then get a much-needed rest," said Pacquiao when asked of what's next in his calendar, at the post-fight press conference held at the adjacent Coxwell Pavilion following the fight, which drew 14,618 paying spectators excluding mediamen, support crew, and many others.
Morales, who received a terrible beating especially in the last five rounds of the fight, did not join the post-fight presser and was brought to the hospital for precautionary measures.
After a tentative first round, Pacquiao immediately worked Morales' body in the second, followed by a big left straight that sent Morales on the ropes and almost down. The duo then went toe-to-toe.
A right uppercut rocked Pacquiao in the third, and the duo went at each other again to the delight of the partisan crowd.
Morales then worked through rounds fourth and fifth, getting busier and counter-punching well every time Pacquiao charged in.
Pacquiao regained his composure in the sixth, rocking Morales several times, and almost scoring a knockdown once again at the end of the round.
Round seven and eighth saw Pacquiao stepping up the tempo, digging Morales' body, as the visibly tired Mexican kept moving away from Pacquiao.
The Filipino continued his onslaught in the ninth, again rocking Morales several times before the latter, in his first sign of capitulation, run away from Pacquiao in the dying seconds and shook his head as if he was up against a big puzzle.
Pacquiao continued hammering Morales' body in the tenth, before a big left downed Morales for the first time. When he got up, Morales was once again on the receiving end of Pacquiao's fury, as the Mexican slowly sank to his knees, prompting referee Kenny Bayless to stop the carnage.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) provided this writer a copy of the scorecard, which had all three judges scoring the bout for Pacquiao before the 10th round. Paul Smith and Jerry Roth had it 87-84, while Dave Moretti saw it 86-85 before the end came, all in favor of Pacquiao.
"The biggest difference tonight are the body attack and the right hand," said Freddie Roach after the fight.
"In the sixth round, when I had him almost down, that was the time I realized the fight could be won," related Pacquiao, when asked if there was a point in the fight when he saw the win coming.
Gary Shaw, Pacquiao's promoter, credited Bob Arum, who promoted the show, for "treating Pacquiao with respect."
END
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