Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Boxing times prediction: Manny to win by 8th round TKO
IT WILL be Manny Pacquiao via an 8th round technical knockout (TKO) over Erik Morales when the Filipino ring gladiator and Mexican warrior slug it out for the third time in a super featherweight bout on November 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Thus, said the well-respected American boxing magazine The Boxing Times in a forecast on the third installment of the Pacquiao-Morales trilogy that was posted in its website www.boxingtimes.com.
While The Boxing Times acknowledged Morales as a born warrior who is not afraid to take on any opponent, including the hardest hitter in the sport today pound-for-pound, it said the Filipino's speed and power will be the big difference in the fight.
"Morales haa great pride and without a doubt he has driven himself in training camp to make weight and blast out Pacquiao. However, we don't see that happening," said The Boxing Times in its prediction.
"Yes, Pacquiao could get caught early specially if he attempts to put too much heat on Morales too early. However, we envision that starting around the 5th, Pacquiao's speed and power will start catching up with Morales. It is a game of reflexes and making your opponents miss. Riveting right hooks and laser-like left hands from the southpaw will be the difference and we believe that Pacquiao will score an 8th round TKO," it added.
It may be recalled that The Boxing Times had also predicted Pacquiao to win over Morales during their second fight last January, but only by unanimous decision.
Pacquiao, firing bombs and unloading savage body shots, went on to score a 10th round TKO over Morales, marking the first time that the great Mexican warrior was stopped in his career.
Morales had won the first encounter with Pacquiao that was back in March 2005 also in Vegas. Using his size and reach advantage, Morales beat Pacquiao to the punch on the way to scoring a unanimous decision victory.
However, The Boxing Times noted that Morales had become bigger and bigger through the years, and this posed a big problem for the Mexican facing a younger and much stronger opponent in Pacquiao.
"In his second fight against Pacquiao, Morales was posing more and throwing less leather. You don't get faster as you get older in the ring. You may have increased power and technical skill but you slow down and that is what is happening with this great champion," The Boxing Times said.
As for Pacquiao, The Boxing Times said: "Pacquiao is at best when he is moving and throwing wicked combinations. He excels at firing and landing a hard left to the body followed by a whistling right hook to the chin. Pacquiao can put you on the deck with either hand, or grind you down with combinations." (CRAM)
