SaddoBoxing Writers Predict: Morales-Pacquiao.

This week, we attempt to do what few people throughout the boxing industry find an easy task by any means: to predict a winner between Mexican legend Erik Morales and Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao. Determining an eventual winner may be difficult,

but understanding the probable nature . of the fight itself certainly is not. The coming together of these fighters is likely to develop one of the greatest fights in recent memory. As Morales, the orthodox boxer-puncher with a taste for a dogfight meets Pacquiao, the southpaw dynamo with no reverse gear and a punch that is pound for pound one of the deadliest in boxing, a classic encounter is expected. By the time the main event happens, we will have seen some excellent contests such as Jorge Arce versus Hussein Hussein. Nevertheless, Morales vs. Pacquiao may not only eclipse all of the night’s action, but it may even surpass whatever else the boxing year of 2005 has to offer. Therefore, with a difficult task to conquer in choosing a winner, allow the SaddoBoxing.com team to enlighten you with their opinions.

Lee Bellfield: I can’t wait for this one. Both men are true warriors, especially Morales
who is jumping straight into the deep end after another Barrera epic. The popular opinion is that Pacquiao will take this one as Morales is coming off a defeat. However, didn’t we say the same about Barrera in November? Styles make fights and this one is so tough to call. Pacquiao has shown greatness but also has flaws that Morales could capitalize on. For instance, after flooring Marquez three times Pacquiao found himself being pegged back. In another all-time classic, I’m tipping Morales to prove his greatness and just nick a twelve round split decision in a fight that could just as easily go the other way.

Greig Johnston: Pac Man-Morales has fight of the year written all over it. Having seen some training footage of Pacquiao, it’s really hard to go past him. He’s so quick it looks like they are speeding the tape up. The guy is like an Eddie Van Halen solo – silky smooth, but punching you in all the right places. Morales was staggered plenty by Barrera last year, so I think Pac Man will inflict a stunning eighth round kayo, after some wild back and forth trading.

Jim Cawkwell: It is difficult for me to go against Erik Morales in any fight, even against Barrera; despite losing two of the three Barrera encounters, I would have to say that I thought those losses were desperately close. I love Morales’ style, he boxes well and looks to land his brilliant right hand, he has the innate toughness of the Mexican greats and he will fight to the very end. The last southpaw Morales fought was Paulie Ayala, and even though Ayala was at the end of his career, he still had plenty of fight in him and Morales simply pounded him throughout the twelve rounds. As difficult as it is to go against Morales, the industry is finding it almost impossible to pick against Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s losses came in the form of stoppages, apparently when he was struggling to make much lower weights than he is fighting at today. I have to say that Pacquiao is a different proposition than he was back then, he seems comfortable at these higher weights and his power has carried through them. But having never fought at 130-pounds before, there is the possibility that Pacquiao may receive a rude awakening in the form of Morales still being upright after absorbing Pacquiao’s punches. It is so difficult to find a way through all of the intangibles involved and arrive at a clear conclusion. However, if I had to make a choice, I would lean towards the work ethic, speed and power of Pacquiao, elements I do not think will desert him, while Morales has given us so many wars, this one may be beyond him. Pacquiao may not knock Morales out, but that power should be enough to keep the Mexican great at bay for long enough. Pacquiao by a close decision.

Richard Eberline: There are so many variables and counterbalances to this one; it’s difficult to pick a winner. Erik Morales will no doubt have his hands full when he climbs through the ropes against Manny Pacquiao but he’ll certainly have one advantage over the Filipino Firecracker: experience. Pacquiao has faced some good foes, but Morales has arguably faced a deeper field of opposition and that may play a part in this much-anticipated match-up.
 
Pacquiao has also been on the canvas more than a few times, losing two bouts by stoppage, although none since 1999. If Nedal Hussein, Serikzan Yeshmanbatov and Marco Antonio Barrera have been able to put Manny on the floor, Morales may be able to accomplish that as well. But the Filipino fighter can hit very hard and Barrera had little problem tagging Morales in their third fight. That may not bode well for Erik. 
 
Can the upright Morales handle the quicker southpaw? Pacquiao positively bombed out Morales’ arch nemesis Barrera, and was well on the way to doing the same against Juan Manuel Marquez before the Mexican figured out Manny and caught him numerous times, as Pacquiao launched his leaping forward assaults. I could go on forever in analyzing this but my gut feeling at the end of the day is that Morales can handle adversity better than Pacquiao and should weather the rough spots on route to winning a clear-cut decision.

Ben Lynch: This could be something special. My opinion is that this is a 50/50 fight.
I’m going with Morales though. I’ve been a fan of “El Terrible” for a while and that is why I’m backing him. That’s not to say I’m disregarding the “Pac-man,” he has huge power and I wouldn’t be surprised if he won. I just feel that there are more elements to Erik’s game, and he’s due a knock out. Morales by KO in round eight in the fight of the year.

Edwin Gonzalez: Wow, the moment of truth has arrived. Erik Morales vs. Manny Pacquiao will be the fight of the year hands down. In this explosive match up, I feel that Erik has the psychological edge over Manny for two reasons. The first being that Erik is physically situated at 130-pounds, the second being that that Manny has been knocked out on two separate occasions. Morales has just touched the canvas once his entire career and that was over five years ago. As soon as Manny gets hit hard, he immediately tries to retaliate. This is not a smart technique to try against Morales. Erik is a very strong finisher. Another flaw I observed in Pacquiao is that when he is hurt, he doesn’t know how to clinch. If he knew how to clinch he would have made it out of both rounds, and would have never been knocked out. It is going to be really interesting to see what “Pacman” is going to do when he realizes that Erik has a chin made of granite. I take Erik Morales by TKO in the eleventh round. There is going to be a lot of fire works in this one, trust me. Enjoy the show!

Don Caputo: Excellent fight, potential fight of the year material. If Morales executes an intelligent, disciplined fight plan, and only trades with the Filipino whirlwind in spurts, he will win this one inside the distance. Pacquiao will of course be extremely dangerous, but if Morales effectively utilizes his advantages and fights smart, he will be victorious on Saturday night. Morales TKO in nine.

Katrina Walters: This will be a great fight between Morales and Pacquiao. I’m going with Pacquiao, although my gut is telling me other wise. I believe Morales will give him a great fight, but I think that Manny will display his speed and skill and pull out the win.

Saddo: This will be a toe-to-toe fight and will end via KO. Manny Pacquiao will be a nightmare for Morales as he is apuncherwith a good chin. Morales needs to go to the body as Manny’s only two losses have both come via body shots, but to tell you the truth, Barrera had more success in his meetings with Morales by attacking and taking the fight to Morales. Manny Pacquiao is a far better attacking fighter than Barrera and I can see him just being too hungry, fast and strong and will break Morales heart as the fight goes on. Manny via late KO or Morales pulled out of the fight by his corner in the late rounds. ((Can’t Wait)).
 
James MacDonald: I pick Morales by a split decision. I think Morales is one of the few fighters equipped to handle Manny’s power. As a result, I see Morales being able to see the fight out, even if he decides to go toe-to-toe. Should he remain disciplined and box, the result should be somewhat more comfortable.

Are you a writer? Would you like to be a part of the SaddoBoxing.com team? If so, contact Jim Cawkwell at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk