Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales (1st meeting)
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Erik Morales 130 lbs beat Manny Pacquiao 129 lbs by UD in round 12 of 12
- Date: 2005-03-19
- Location: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- Referee: Joe Cortez
- Judge: Chuck Giampa 115-113
1 9102 1093 9104 1095 1096 1097 9108 1099 91010 10911 10912 910 - Judge: Dave Moretti 115-113
1 9102 1093 9104 1095 1096 1097 9108 1099 91010 10911 10912 910 - Judge: Paul Smith 115-113
1 9102 1093 9104 1095 1096 9107 1098 1099 91010 10911 10912 910
- Announcer: Michael Buffer
- WBC International Super Featherweight Title (Vacant title)
- IBA Super Featherweight Title (Vacant title)
- Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4, Photo 5, Photo 6, Photo 7
Notes
- Morales entered the fight ranked No. 2 at 130 pounds by The Ring, and Pacquiao was recognized as World Featherweight Champion by the publication.
- This was Pacquiao's first fight in the 130-pound division.
- Pacquiao was a 7-5 betting favorite.
- Morales was guaranteed $2.5 million and Pacquiao $1.75 million.
- The fight was televised live on pay-per-view by HBO. It generated 350,000 buys and $15.7 million in revenue.
- Both boxers were weighed in their dressing rooms before the fight. Morales was 140 pounds and Pacquiao 139.
- Pacquiao sustained a deep cut over his right eye from a headbutt in the fifth round. "It was a big distraction," he said after the fight.
- The Los Angeles Times called the match "a brilliant fight . . . which left the sellout crowd of 14,623 standing and cheering through much of it."
- Morales landed 265 of 714 total punches (37 percent) and 169 of 411 power punches (41 percent).
- Pacquiao landed 217 of 894 total punches (24 percent) and 183 of 545 power punches (34 percent).
- The Associated Press and Harold Lederman, HBO's unofficial judge, scored the fight 116-112 for Morales.
- Less than a week before the fight, Pacquiao learned that his promoter, Murad Muhammad, had negotiated away his right to pick the brand of gloves he wanted to wear and gave Morales the choice. Morales picked Winning, which Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach later called "pillows." Japanese-made Winning brand gloves have the bulk of their padding near the fist, and Morales — with a history of brittle hands — preferred them. Pacquiao wanted to wear Cleto Reyes gloves, the Mexican-made brand with a reputation as a puncher's glove because the padding is distributed in such a way that the fighter's fist is not nearly as padded as it is in other brands. "I would have liked to use my gloves," Pacquiao said after the fight, "but I had to go with what was in the contract."
- Two days before the fight, the Nevada State Athletic Commission forced Pacquiao to take a blood test and an eye examination. The commission stated that Pacquiao had failed to submit to a mandatory medical examination within the prescribed 30-day period before the fight. Freddie Roach said Pacquiao had been examined at a California clinic on March 4, and the test results had been lost. Murad Muhammad had former FBI agent Warren Flagg call the doctor at the clinic and ask him to fax the test results to the commission. Flagg reported back to Muhammad that the examination had not been done within 30 days of the fight; It had been done in January. Muhammad was then accused of having the test results stolen.
- Shortly after losing to Morales, Pacquiao told Filipino talk show host Dong Puno that he felt dizzy and his head started to hurt after his blood was taken. The doctor told him to drink a lot of water, but he couldn’t because he was drying out to make weight. Pacquiao said he went into the fight feeling drained and weak.
See also
Sources
- "Morales vows: No more womanizing" By Salven L. Lagumbay, Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 19, 2005
- "Pacquiao Forced To Take Medical Tests, Murad Blasts Roach" By Ronnie Nathenielsz, Boxingscene.com, March 18, 2005
- "ACCUSATIONS FLY: Team confusion endangering Pacquiao bid" By Recah Trinidad, Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 19, 2005
- "Morales decisions bloodied Pacquiao" Sarasota Herald-Tribune, March 21, 2005
- "Pacquiao Sees Red in Loss to Morales" By Steve Springer, Los Angeles Times, March 21, 2005
- "Pacquiao back in glove he loves, but is Morales?" By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com, January 19, 2006
- "The Trials and Tribulations of Manny Pacquiao, P1" By Ronnie Nathenielsz, Boxingscene.com, September 30, 2006
- "Pacquiao-Morales trilogy combines for $49.5 million" By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com, November 29, 2006
- YouTube Video: Pacquiao talks about having blood taken two days before the first Morales fight
| Preceded by: Corrales vs. Casamayor II |
IBA Super Featherweight Title Fight # 9 |
Succeeded by: Davis vs. Zepeda |