Where do people stand on the Morales vs Pacquiao II weight issue?

This isn't a hate thread. I want to know what people's feelings are. I just watched Pacquiao vs Morales III Countdown, and the images they showed of Morales gaunt face on the scales left quite an impression. First time I had seen it, and I find the evidence to be pretty indisputable that Morales was killing himself making 130lbs.

Thoughts?

 

:tired

 

I think around 2005, the Morales camp "called out" the Pacquiao camp, and invited them to go up from 126 to 130. MP only had 4 featherweight fights at the time (the Russian "1st time at featherweight" tune up dude, Barrera, Marquez and the 3K battery tuneup fight for the planned MP-JMM II)

Morales' current 130 weight class at the time, the division where he's been fighting at for around 2 years already.

And the second fight was also at 130.

As well as the 3rd fight.

 

Before this fight, Morales tried to climb to 135, got beat by Raheem, moved back down to 130 coz he claimed 135 does not suit him. There are couple of interview for this, i am quite sure. Just dig some news reports on the fight. So there's no reason to complain abt the weight.

Also I would have thought you know morales well enough that during weigh-ins, he looks death himself right there. Then would rehydrate well during the fight.

 

Hmm.... he might be past prime but he is still capable of beating pac on the 2nd fight. I dont give much emphasis on this pac win though. I'd rather give credence to his 2nd fight with marquez

 

Morales was past his prime. He was dominated by Raheem who's asbolutely not a physical fighter, so the weight didn't matter. Morales had weight problems but so did PacMan is many fights. But Erik was badly past in his last few fights, got hit by stuff he never was before, showed faded reflexes, loss of power, lack of punch resistence, low energy level, slower handspeed etc. Amazing how that version could beat Pacquiao.

 

I don't think I've ever seen Morales look as bad as he did ahead of the second Pacquiao fight. I'm getting a lot of responses, but nothing that's holding a great deal of weight. Morales went on record to say that it was killing him to make 130lbs after the fight, and Morales has never given me reason to perceive him to be a sour grapes type of guy. The images of him on the scales clearly show that Morales looks dead at the weight, but he did fight very well up until the stoppage. It's a puzzling scenario.

 

That version also beat a one handed version of pac... his first fight at 130/bad cut/pillow gloves so many factors to consider. Great win by Morales but it was close... :deal

Morales's loss to raheem was more of the stylistic matchup not becuase he was slow or shot.

the third fight i would say he was past it... it was clear he was having a hard time cutting down weight.
he shouldn't have fought pac, it was his call pac never call him out.

 

That Morales will beat any SFW not named Barrera, Pacquiao and Marquez. And i am amazed how people forgets that Pac moved up in weight when Morales beat him, where he only has 3 successive fights at FW (4 fights, but after the first, he moved back to 122). Yet you hardly ever hear us point this out or make excuse about it.

Morales also boxed, the most beautiful performance he has IMO, unlike in his Barrera fights where he loses his composure and fights with his heart. I will always maintain that had Morales boxed he would be 2-1 against MAB, not the other way around.

 

That's the excuse Pac lovers love to say, but this excuse socks... I mean sucks.

 

I don't give much credence to the weight problems because he went up to 135 but can't perform at his best. Stylistically, he was in a very bad match-up with Raheem but he was also sluggish and slower than when he was at 130.

He looks better at 130, the main difference I believe is that PAC is already acquiring the skills to beat Morales, he was settling in weight, there was no cut, and he knows he is in for the fight of his life. Even at the 8th round, morales was fighting back, but the power difference was already telling.

 

I think I remember EM saying on an interview that looking back, he thought it was a miracle how he ever consistently made the 122 weight limit. He was wondering how he was able to do that again and again, back when he was in his early-mid 20s. And most people say that at 122, he was at the peak of his powers.

So, he was still very good when he fought at 126 and 130, but he was having a hard time making 130 by the time he was in his late 20's. He was 5'8, trying to make 122, 126 and 130. A regular Joe of his exact same size would look like a weak, anorexic stick man.

He could go up to 135 but he was really not that good at 135.

So he was in limbo.

 

facts that needs to be considered... :deal
pac without the cut with punchers gloves might have knocked out morales on the 12 rnd, we will never know... :yep

btw the sock was during the marquez fight.

 

How did you score the fight, Enzo? Just out of curiosity.

 

Fact is an over the hill Morales beat an absolute prime Pac before getting schooled by Raheem. Then Pac KTFO the over the hill Morales twice. He also beat prime Barrera among others very impressively, so take no credit away. But fact is a fact, by then, Morales was badly faded, and still beat Pacquiao.