A raging bull when he’s on the ring, Manny Pacquiao was like a meek lamb when off it yesterday as he finally came face to face with Erik Morales.
It’s not that the Filipino boxing icon cowers in fear on the mere sight of the lanky Mexican who beat him in a closely-fought bout the first time they met last year.
Rather, Pacquiao just wouldn’t want to be dragged in a protracted word war with his 29-year old foe from Tijuana, Mexico. Never mind if his defense and punching power were severely questioned by Morales himself in the midst of the final press conference for their Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time) 12-round rematch in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“It’s going to be a good fight. Both of us worked real hard and we’re going to give you a good fight on Saturday,” said Pacquiao in halting English at the packed Mouton room Three-time world champion Erik Morales (left) and two-time world champion Manny Pacquiao lock eyes during their press conference at Wynn Las Vegas for the “The Battle” on Saturday night.
The Filipino’s broken English was actually mocked by the pro-Mexican crowd that attended the affair, several times cutting short Pacquiao from saying his piece by yelling out ‘Speak English.’
But Pacquiao managed to keep his cool and at one-time, even managed to shout back ‘Viva Mexico’ to the restless Mexicans.
The jeerings were just among the several hurled against the 27-year old native of General Santos City. Earlier, Morales boasted that the Filipino southpaw never hurt him during their mega-buck March 19 fight last year at the MGM Grand. He went on and denied that he was on the verge of being knocked down in the decisive 12th round when Pacquiao appeared to have caught him with a solid right-left combination.
“I never felt his power. From the first round, I never felt his power,” admitted the proud Mexican. “In the 12th round, it was more because I’m not used to fighting left handed. If it really would have hurt me, I would have turned around and fought right handed.
Morales proceeded to censure Pacquiao as one who doesn’t have a good defensive stance.
“I don’t think he’s a technically sound fighter. I think he depends on his power,” he pointed out. “If I had to rate his defense, I would think he’s a five out of 10.”
