Round by Round: Erik Morales vs. Manny Pacquiao.

In a classic main event at the MGM Grand, in Vegas, Erik Morales returned from the desolation of defeat to pound a close decision win over Manny Pacquiao. It was a horrendous, bloody battle in which both fighters had their successes, but Morales’ mixture of boxing ability and willingness to give

and take punishment at the right times was the difference between the two. Pacquiao was always dangerous but just could not make his best work tell enough to beat the Mexican warrior Morales. Read on for a full account of what happened when these two champions fought to the end.

Round one: They trade body shots and the opening is respectful and tense. Pacquiao’s left gets through but Morales shakes it off. Pacquiao lands big and the crowd sense a stoppage. Pacquiao lands a good combination and they trade back and forth, as Morales will not be dominated. Morales looks much slower next to Pacquiao.

Round two: Pacquiao lands a straight left to the body. Morales is landing with greater consistency and defending well. It is fairly even so far. Morales holds up well under Pacquiao’s power.

Round three: Morales is boxing and jabbing away at Pacquiao. Morales is far more accurate, especially with his right hand. They trade and Morales comes off the better. Boxing or brawling, it’s all Morales in the early going. Pacquiao is having a lot of trouble finding the angle for his left hand.

Round four: Pacquaio waits on the outside while Morales lands to the body. Big punches land from both men. Morales really is landing a lot here and Pacquiao’s punches lack snap. Morales looks like the boss in there and Pacquiao is not doing anything when they get inside.

Round five: Morales makes Pacquaio back up. Pacquiao lands a left hand and they trade big shots. Pacquiao is cut over the right eye by an unintentional head butt but it looks as if it will be ruled as a punch. The doctor takes too long to see to Pacquiao’s eye and it looks for a while as if the fight might end in a stoppage on the cut. They resume fighting and Pacquiao goes to work with some combinations.

Round six: Pacquiao’s work is less urgent but he begins to land more. Morales begins to take a lot of punishment now. Morales soon comes back and drives Pacquiao backwards. Pacquiao’s inside flurries are totally ineffective and Morales’ jab always stops him coming in from the outside.

Round seven: Pacquiao lands a good combination, significant by its greater accuracy. Morales gets the odd shot off but Pacquiao is now beginning to take over and look like the boss in there. Morales lands a right hand which sparks off an excellent trade. They both have success with combinations in the last thirty seconds.

Round eight: Morales lands a good left hook. They begin trading with each other again and Morales’ right hands are answered by Pacquiao’s lefts. Morales looks hurt by Pacquiao’s punches as Morales starts to get caught too much towards the end of the round.

Round nine: Morales lands a right hand and his great jab is in control again. Pacquiao is now more accurate than before and is hurting Morales again with several barrages of punches. This is a big turning point for Pacquiao as he gets in some solid hooks too.

Round ten: Morales goes to the body. Pacquiao lands a left and looks to be coming on until Morales comes raging back with a vengeance. Morales’ right hand is devastating and Pacquiao is in trouble. Pacquiao returns fire with a combination but has to eat more Morales right hands for the privilege.

Round eleven: Morales laying off, conserving energy. Both shoot off combinations that land at once. Pacquiao lands some strong combinations and both have their successes but it is Pacquiao that looks the worse for wear.

Round twelve: They are punching at range. Morales turns southpaw and stuns Pacquiao but Pacquiao comes back strong with a left hand. Pacquiao’s combinations persuade Morales back into the orthodox stance. They battle to the end and finish the fight winging shots at each other in the centre of the ring.

And the winner, by unanimous scores of 115-113 on all scorecards, Erik Morales.

Jim Cawkwell can be reached at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk