PRE-FIGHT ANALYSIS: Larios will frustrate Pinoy fans lusting for his blood
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 28 Jun 2006
Like Elorde, 132 lbs, the 27-year-old multi-millionaire from General Santos City will climb the ring with intense homicidal intent. Elorde wrecked the visitor and as Gomes lay on the canvas writhing in pain in the 7th round, a boisterous crowd of 40,000 fans whooped up in jubilation. He didn’t frustrate his countrymen.
QUICK KILL
Like in the Elorde-Gomes tussle, Pacquiao’s strong determination to execute the visiting rival in grand fashion ala matador aiming for a quick kill in the Barcelona bullring is fueled by high public expectations whipped up by media mileage and gargantuan publicity of the ABS-CBN-backed US$4 -million promotion.
Pacquiao is aware that his failure to put up a gallant show before an adoring hometown crowd would mean a terrible disappointment as fans will be expecting for no less than a knockout win for the local hero.
This psychological baggage has victimized the likes of Alejandro "Cobrita" Gonzalez and Luisito Espinosa to mention only a few. Heavy-favorite Gonzalez, aiming to snatch Espinosa’s WBC featherweight belt in 1997, was brutally disposed of by Espinosa in the fourth round during a rematch in Gonzalez’s hometown in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Gonzalez, who kayoed Espinosa in two rounds three years earlier, had predicted a more destructive ending for Espinosa and paid dearly for his pre-fight braggadocio.
The same Espinosa kissed goodbye his WBA bantamweight bauble in 1991 when he was mauled black and blue en route to a shock fourth round knockout defeat to the visiting Venezuelan underdog Israel Contreras also at the Big Dome.
NO MATCH
Espinosa had the crowd behind him but their cheers and jeers were no match to Contreras’ blistering fists, thus momentarily ending the Tondo boy’s colorful fistic career (he bounced back to grab another world crown in the higher division and the rest is history).
Battle-scarred Pacquiao is heavy favorite to roll past his tune-up customer Larios in route to a multi-million third match with Erik Morales in October in Las Vegas. Since he is fighting in front of his compatriots, Pacquiao will be obliged to put up a devastating performance to please his benevolent sponsors led by San Miguel Corporation, movie producers, relatives, hangers-on, etc. He must impress including those who don’t believe in his invincibility as a certified ribcracker.
DREAM
Fighting before a hometown crowd has always been a dream for superstars like Pacquiao.
But there are also big risks -- overconfidence, distractions (there are plenty of them), over-hyped and burn-out. In his eagerness to quickly flatten Larios, Pacquiao might prematurely empty his gas and fade away in the long run.
Sources from the Teiken Gym in Tokyo where Larios was holed up for at least three weeks prior to arriving in Manila, said orthodox Larios trained hard to last the distance; meaning, his training regimen includes revving up his lateral movements and honing his dizzying footwork.
Larios will never engage the dangerous Pacquiao in a phone-booth brawl and will avoid the boxer-cum-movie actor like a leper until the final bell. The plan is to prevent a visit in the canvas and finish the 12-round shootout with head unbowed win or lose.
If the fight goes the distance, a point victory for Pacquiao isn’t far-fetched considering that his outfit, the Manny Pacquiao Promotions (MPP) has the "bigger say" in the rich promotion. That’s given.
BLOODTHIRSTY
Because bloodthirsty Filipino fans have been expecting Pacquiao to dismantle Larios, they would go home empty-handed and dissatisfied as they have lusted for Larios’ blood like spectators in the Roman Colosseum.
Pacquiao will be hard-pressed to knockout Larios who will spend the whole morning riding in the bicycle and duck Pacquiao’s howitzer-like "Manila Ice". And if no knockout will come, Pacquiao’s goose is cooked.
Larios, who will receive his biggest paycheck of US$400,000 in a checkered career, will have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
For Pacquiao, at stake is his reputation as a Mexican killer and the universal billing as "one of the most exciting fighters in the world today."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
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