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PACQUIAO TRIUMPHS

 

Hector Velazquez was a carefully chosen foe. He was the seal thrown into the hungry mouth of a shark, someone who was willing to stand in front of super featherweight sensation Manny Pacquiao, one of the hardest punchers in all of boxing.

 

A solid favorite, Pacquiao wasn't just expected to win. Rising from the ashes of his loss to Erik Morales last March 19, "The Destroyer" needed to look good to convince boxing fans around the globe that he is ready to take on Erik "El Terrible" Morales again, and that the Jan. 26, 2006 rematch is worth its weight in $49.95 pay-per-view gold.

 

And like he often does, Pacquiao didn't disappoint, adding yet another gem to an already illustrious career by stopping Velazquez in six rounds to annex the World Boxing Council's 130-pound International championship.

 

But two hours after his fistic masterpiece, Pacquiao watched a big payday jeopardized when Morales was upset in the main event of HBO's "Double Trouble" presentation. Along with the mighty reversal, Pacquiao's next wealthy paycheck - a cool $1.78 million - may have possibly melted.

 

Morales was flatly embarrassed by Zahir Raheem, who completely dominated the fight, landing 161 of 586 punches (27 percent) and hitting "El Terrible" with 111 of 282 power blows (39 percent) to win by unanimous decision and claim the WBC International lightweight title.

 

Despite the shocking loss, Top Rank has reportedly announced the rematch will push through and will be telecast on HBO-PPV.

 

In the undercard Filipino-American Brian Viloria (18-0, 12 KOs) won the WBC mini-flyweight championship with of an astounding first-round knockout of dethroned champion Eric Ortiz (24-5-1, 16 KOs).

 

A big right hand ended the fight at 2:59. Ortiz tried to get up but stumbled back to the canvas, prompting a stoppage by referee Raul Caiz Jr.

 

Viloria proudly waved the Philippine flag after the fight and thanked his Filipino and Hawaiian supporters in a post-fight interview.

 

Also in the undercard, ALA Gym's Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista was just as impressive with a third-round stoppage of Felix Murillo.

 

"This win makes me even prouder to be a Filipino and a Boholano," Bautista told Sun.Star Cebu.

 

During a press conference last week, promoter Bob Arum introduced Bautista as the "next Manny Pacquiao." Bautista said

it was a burden to be given such hype.

 

However heavy that burden was, it certainly did not show in his short workout of Murillo as the Staples Center crowd was left in awe of the Candijay, Bohol boxer's skills and power.

 

Despite his imposing performance, Bautista remained modest: "I feel there's still room for improvement."

 

US-based Michael Koncz and ALA Gym owner Antonio Aldeguer, Bautista's managers, have lined up the Boholano heavy-puncher for another fight in November, in an undercard in Vitaly Klitschko's heavyweight title defense against former champion Hasim Rahman in Las Vegas.

 

"If not, we'll likely set him up for a title defense of his WBO As-Pac title in the Philippines," said Aldeguer, who will return to Cebu with Bautista and trainer Edito Villamor next week.

 

Power has always been Pacquiao's calling card. But as he fought to "recover my name" in front of a huge Filipino crowd at Staples Center, Pacquiao elevated his game and brought three other "Ps" to the ring apron.

 

Against the 30-year-old Velazquez, Pacquiao was placid, slowly wending his way through the scheduled 12-round fight. He didn't just charge recklessly, choosing his spots instead, and saving his stamina for sustained flurries inside every round.

 

Against Velazquez (42-11-2, 31 KOs), a 12-year professional with a granite chin and a deep bag of tricks, Pacquiao (40-3-2, 31 KOs) was poised. Although he knew he was superior in talent, Pacquiao resisted the urge to be cocky and simply stuck to the plan.

 

He bullied when he can, boxed when he should, and always kept his defense tight.

 

Against Velazquez, a fairly elusive target with respectable counter-punching skills, Pacquiao was precise. He landed 171 of 473 punches for a 36 percent clip. He also hit Velazquez with 146 of 355 power punches for a staggering 41 percent accuracy.

 

Pacquiao got hit, too. He chewed 90 of Velazquez's 420 total punches. He also inhaled 80 of his foe's 262 power blows. But the Pinoy never buckled under the welter of Velazquez's assault.

 

Pacquiao started conservatively, allowing Velazquez to gain some steam with nifty combinations and solid hooks early on. But when Pacquiao found his groove, the wide disparity in quickness and overall skills became evident.

 

By the third round, Pacquiao began to hit the Mexican hard and often. And then it all unraveled in the sixth round when Velazquez walked through a right hook. Pacquiao, one of the best finishers in the business, followed the direct hit with an unrelenting barrage that eventually convinced the referee Lou Moret, a doctor, that Velazquez had enough.

 

Pacquiao was so good that during the interview after the fight, he didn't need an interpreter to articulately field an interview with HBO's Larry Merchant.

 

Asked if Velazquez had hurt him, especially with the right hooks in the first three rounds, Pacquiao said "no," nodding his head violently. He also gave an eloquent speech thanking his millions of fans for their support.

 

Although just 29 years young, Morales looked older than dirt last night.

 

He was painfully slow, if not uncomfortable, at 135 pounds. His power eluded him, and when his stamina receded in the late rounds, so did his will to win.

 

Repeatedly clocked with clean shots, this was shockingly not the same Morales who tormented Pacquiao for 12 bloody rounds just six months ago in Las Vegas. The Morales who tangled last night in California was dispirited and lacked self-belief.

 

And Raheem had a lot to do with that, confessed Morales.

 

"He is very elusive. It's difficult to hit him because he didn't want to fight," a disappointed Morales said through an interpreter after his loss.

 

But it wasn't just Raheem's speed that was befuddling. Morales was simply inept, hitting just 85 of 543 punches (16 percent) and connecting only 62 of 353 power punches (18 percent). Morales was so inexplicably inactive that he threw less than 10 punches in seven of the first nine rounds.

 

Raheem upped his record to 27-1 with 16 KOs while the vanquished Morales fell to 48-3 with 34 KOs.

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i think Pacquiao should aim for a title instead of revenge against Morales. He has beaten Barrera to a pulp before naman. He wont gain anything by fighting Morales.  Siguro si Marquez pewede pa kasi tit;le holder. kapag manalo siya kay Marquez, reunification fight with Barrera na

The biggest consideration of boxers' is the money. He won't make nearly as much money if he fights Marquez rather than Morales. He would make as much or more from a fight with Barrera if he could get it since it would be a title fight, but probably won't. Marquez is not that popular in the US so he doesn't command a big price.

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Pacman really did us proud! Congrats alkso to Vilkoria and Bautista!

 

Although I still believe Mr. Pacquiao still needs to work on his defense. After seeing Raheem fight (a truely materful showing of defense and offense), Manny should learn more defensive moves and counter when the opprtunity arises. Why do i say this? It pains me to see him hit, especially the overhand left (which Morales did effectively during their fight early this year).

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i think Pacquiao should aim for a title instead of revenge against Morales. He has beaten Barrera to a pulp before naman. He wont gain anything by fighting Morales.  Siguro si Marquez pewede pa kasi tit;le holder. kapag manalo siya kay Marquez, reunification fight with Barrera na

Morales is the bigger money fight than Barrera.. there won't be any unification fight as JMM campaigns in the featherweight (126lbs) division while PacMan and Barrera in the super featherweight (130lbs) division.. morales' loss was suffered in the lightweight (135lbs) division whose big names are diego corrales, jose luis castillo et al..

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