BoxRec

Ok i just seen two training video's of both men and its got me excited for this fight. Here they both are for anyone who hasn't caught them yet.

Pacman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQiRvFN8 ... ed&search=

Morales
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4-11lFB ... ed&search=


Ok well that sets the scene pretty good for the third installement of an superb trilogy.

I'll be honest immediatly after the rematch and when this rubbermatch was announced i had no doubts that Pacman would win, but from hearing the interviews/articles on Morales in the run up to this fight its made the fight seem a bit closer to me. Morales is taking this so seriously and will be in the best possble shape. He's leaving nothing to chance as he heads into this fight and that fact has to be respected. He's no question one of todays true warriors.
I think its fascinating to compare the totally differing approaches of both men towards their training environment. Morales prefering the seclusion style camp while Pacman likes to be around his people. They might have a different outlook but both guys will come into the fight in tip top condition and looking to do damage.

So having acknowledged that all the hype has made me question a little the certainy of my earlier thoughts on this one, how do i see it now?

Well Morales will want to box more this time and im sure he'll ideally like to use his jab to keep Manny off and not have to get involved. Pacman will also want to use the jab but more to set up his big straight left and right hooks. The body attack of Pacman last time was a key thing in his victory as he took Morales legs away and sapped his strength, so no question he'll be under instructions to bring more of the same. The movement of both guys will be interesting to see. Morales will probably try to give Manny more angles this time with lateral movement, while Pacman will look to keep bouncing in with his attacks in that 'comin to get ya' style of his. Like in the rematch i think we'll see him using lots of feints as he seeks to draw Morales into mistakes. Its such an interesting fight from so many perspectives. Will this be the end of the Morales legendary career? Will it a rebirth? Revenge or repeat? Can Pacman, the new superstar cement his position as one of todays elite fighters or will a 'fading' light start to shine again?

So ultimately whats going to transpire imo? Well despite maybe second guessing myself a little bit i think im going to look beyond the hype jobs and just go with my gut feeling. My feelings after the rematch were that Pacman just has Morales number now. Too vibrant and too fast. It was a competitive fight for a good 6 or so rounds last time but Pacman proved too much as he came on like a freight train. I still think at the end of the day that this'll be the case here. I expect a similar fight to the last time but with maybe even more frenetic exchanges early. I think Pacman will want to pounce on Morales right from the off and carry on where he left off, make Morales remember straight away what it was like last time. He won't want Morales to get any confidence going. Morales for his part will meet fire with fire and we'll see some terrific exchanges as both men try and impose their will and skill on the other.

I think its going to be a great fight to watch but imo the speed, freshness and energy of Pacman will once again carry him to victory, after a brave last stand from Morales.

I have to give Morales real respect for getting back in with Manny after taking a complete beating in the 2nd fight.

If Morales comes to fight toe-to-toe then the obvious pick to me is Manny to win again.

Should Erik go back to boxing more as per the first fight he may have a chance again.

There's nothing like seeing a ring legend pitted against adversity and seeing what they can produce and that's why I can't completely rule out a true champion like Erik.

That said, I go for the Pac Man.

manny wins in round 6 = ref stops fight el terrible with terrible looking marks to his face

PacMan has to be the hot favorite: how many times does a fighter, at the tail end of his career, turn the tables after suffering a beat down like that?

Not often. In fact, almost never. Now Morales has finally been KO'd, the game might be up.
In the middle of a long hard battle, he might find it easier to accept a KO this time, where as before, the thought was an absolute impossibility.

He's as proud a warrior as you'll ever see though, and you can't really put anything past him - so it's a fight you have to see ( unless you're unlucky enough to rely on those f***wits at Sky )

Like Graham Houston likes to say, Morales is a lion in winter.

still pissed off with sky for not showing it.

confound you mighty warrior you beat me to that cheap shot by 2 seconds!

if morales wins i'll eat my hat

MightyWarrior wrote:Now Morales has finally been KO'd, the game might be up.
In the middle of a long hard battle, he might find it easier to accept a KO this time, where as before, the thought was an absolute impossibility.

Yeah thats a big possibility. I think that parallels can be drawn between this rubber match and the rematch between Aaron Pryor and Alexis Arguello. Arguello fought like a maniac before finally going down in the first fight but in the rematch he went down a lot easier.

We cannot discount however, the possibility that what we saw last time was due to Eric simply not being in condition for a hard fight, he looked exhausted more than crushed at the point he was stopped.

Initially I thought he was foolish for taking this fight on, and maybe he is, but the more I think about it, the more I am inclined to go for what would now be considered an upset.

A win for Morales would certainly be no upset.

People have forgotten all too easily just how good this man is.

Out of the 22 rounds they have fought I give 75% of them to Erik so his ability is clearly there.

If there was ever a chance that EM could pull one last great display out of the bag all the circumstances would have to be spot on.

eg........

His weight issues would have to be under control by employing a good dietician and a good nutritionist and having a perfect training regime set out. Weight drain more often than not can cause a fighter to be hurt and fatigued much more easily, so a good weight, training and diet plan can aid him in handling Pac's power more effectively...(this is something that I believe he has adressed already)

He would have to have a bit of a rest period before getting back into the ring as he is usually too quick to get back into action that can cause a fighter to decline in terms of ability quicker than he would like.(I also believe he has had a sufficient rest this time)

His habit of being drawn into a war would have to be controlled because even if he comes out on top after the exchanges he is using fuel that he didn't have to(he has a great boxing mind and needs to use it)

Finally, his stamina will need to have been worked on in order to insure a points win if it goes that far, in the past his youth has always helped him to the final bell but theres no reason why he cannot still do it if he plays his cards right.

I think its fair to say that after two previous encounters with Pac that he is well clued up about his man's style, strengths and weakneses and he has more than enough talent and ringcraft to execute a plan to win this fight.

Just control that hot temper Erik and you can ease to a points win..
Dont fight messy against a messy fighter

I predict EM on points but its still a close one to call.

Only a fool would count Erik out.

Erik needs to keep the fight at long range, and punish Pacman when he tries to close, then tie the little man up on the inside and catch him with some sneaky uppercuts occasionally before pushing him off. Pacman is very quick at closing the distance, and used the jab and the body shots well on the way in, before bringing across the left hook and straight rights.

Morales tried to mix it on the inside too much, but I think fatigue played it's part in that. He's got to avoid those rib crunching body shots this time.

PacMan has to be the hot favorite: how many times does a fighter, at the tail end of his career, turn the tables after suffering a beat down like that?

Not often. In fact, almost never. Now Morales has finally been KO'd, the game might be up.
In the middle of a long hard battle, he might find it easier to accept a KO this time, where as before, the thought was an absolute impossibility.

He's as proud a warrior as you'll ever see though, and you can't really put anything past him - so it's a fight you have to see ( unless you're unlucky enough to rely on those f***wits at Sky )

Like Graham Houston likes to say, Morales is a lion in winter.

Very good post mate

"only a fool would count erik out" well my friend the referee counted erik out last time against pac and he was nobody's fool
KO r6 pac

I'd love to see the undercard fight too, for Cotto's vacant old title: Ricardo Torres, who looked a terrific puncher vs Cotto, taking on undefeated Greek Mike Arnaoutis, who's been telling everyone who'll listen than Torres is going to get flattened on sat night.

The Greek has a good looking record, including a draw against Urango, the man next to face Hatton, is his never-ending-series-of-warm-ups-to- the-superfight-that'll-never-happen.

Two recent first round KO's over undefeated fighters look good on first glance, until you check the two guy's records and see they appear to be the type of boxers talked about in the fixed fights thread: records built on 0-1 cab drivers.

So Mighty Mike seems a bit protected of late...he'll be in for a major shock when Torres connects I think - though if he has an excellent chin it could be a war.

Well it was a few rounds quicker than i expected, but Manny got the job done in great style.

Too much energy, speed and power for a faded Morales to deal with and it was apparent to all and Erik himself that it wasn't going to be his night very early. He took some heavy punishment in the short time it lasted and he was correct to stay down when he got dropped for the 3rd time. Im suprised at the amount of criticism i've heard Morales recieve for staying down but imo he did the right thing.

No point turning the key, if the tank is empty.

lurkyshaka wrote:Well it was a few rounds quicker than i expected, but Manny got the job done in great style.

Too much energy, speed and power for a faded Morales to deal with and it was apparent to all and Erik himself that it wasn't going to be his night very early. He took some heavy punishment in the short time it lasted and he was correct to stay down when he got dropped for the 3rd time. Im suprised at the amount of criticism i've heard Morales recieve for staying down but imo he did the right thing.

No point turning the key, if the tank is empty.

Morales' tank was empty before the fight began. Anyone who thought Erik had any chance at this fight hasn't seen him since beating Manny a while back. Raheem exposed how shot he was becoming, and Manny cashed in on a hero's flame slowly dying. Can't say I'm surprised by the result, just a bit sooner than I expected.

yep