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

I don't think Morales was ever that good at 130lbs either. Morales did not put in a good performance against Barrera in the rubber match, and I think he lost some of his speed whilst moving up. Some may say, "Oh, Morales was taking Barrera lightly because of the defeat to Pacquiao". Nobody is going to convince me that Morales took Barrera lightly, he wanted to knock his ass out so badly he could taste it.

The best Morales we ever saw was at 122lbs, under no question. He was a very good Featherweight, but he slowed down considerably up at Super. This may have just tied in to the fact that Morales had been through a number of wars, and was getting up in the late 20's. In any event, some people say that every great fighter has one great left in him. Morales delivered on that when he outboxed the Filipino star in '05, I feel.

It's been well documented that Morales was having issues making 130lbs around the time of the second Pacquiao fight. I'm not convinced it factored in him losing, because he did put in a good performance, but by his own admission, he was not happy with his preparation. Manny, of course, took care of business. All power to him for that, but I can't help think Morales was fighting on heart alone in '06.

 

115-113 Morales. It was close but clear win, morales controlled the tempo of the fight with his experience... facts to be considered though, pac was having trouble with the nasty cut that bothered his vision and made him panic, Morales was clearly the bigger man.

 

Only a die hard Manny Pacquiao fan would dispute that Morales was past his prime at that point. Hell, I don't think Morales was ever as good after moving up from 122lbs, let alone up at Super Featherweight later on. He lost a bit of speed, and maybe, just maybe, after he took on Marco back in 2000, he was never quite as confident in his own abilities as he once was, when he felt he was invincible. By his own admission, he lost the first fight with Barrera - who gave Barrera his belt at the end of the fight, and then put a medal around him in the locker room.

 

Facts to also consider. Morales was considerably older than Manny in terms of Boxing years, and wasn't really supposed to perform like that against a young firestorm like Manny Pacquiao. I think in this case Enzo, although your loyalties will always lie with the Filipino flag, you should really be paying tribute to the performance Erik Morales put it. Be proud that your fighter avenged the defeats in decisive fashion, but the first fight was Morales night.

Nobody can ever take that away from him.

 

pac might be at his physically prime but obviously comparing that jab, jab, straight left version with todays pac in terms of skills, defense, movement, balance and ring generalship today's pac is waaay better. :deal

morales was great... no question. but pac will end up higher than him in atg rankings when everything is said and done, haters needs to accept that.

 

Morales is a warrior i give him that... i also give him credit for beating pac. Some of his fans overrate that win though considering that wasn't the best version of pac we have seen.

People should also give credit pac for beating his ass and making him quit.

 

imo morales isnt what he used to be in the first fight, but still, due to stylistic advantage (not just because morales is the better fighter overall), he was able to beat pac cause of his reach and effective counterpunching. in the 2nd fight, i believe morales during that time is considered 'faded', but still he was able to give pac some problems before being koed. the 3rd fight with morales shouldnt have happened, that was out of greed on arums part (although i still think that due to morales warrior heart, he took that fight to avenge his loss in the 2nd fight)

 

Here's something for you to accept, Enzo.

In boxing, wars take their toll. The majority if not all of great fighters will one day suffer a devastating defeat at the hands of a much lesser talent. This did not happen with Morales vs. Pacquiao, Erik can take comfort in knowing he got beat by a terrific fighter, but can the same be said about Zahir Raheem? I can buy into people saying it was a bad stylistic match-up, but you don't envision a prime time Morales imposing his will on the same foe? Morales in 1998-2001 ever losing a points verdict to a Raheem quality of fighter to me is...almost inconceivable.

No doubt Manny Pacquiao will finish above Morales in the All-time great rankings, and rightly so after everything he has gone on to achieve. However, the victory he achieved over Manny, a version of Manny good enough to fight a draw with Marquez, and bludgeon Marco Antonio Barrera, can never be taken away. It's also worthy of note that Morales simply was at the end of his career. If this concept is hard to grasp at this point in time, in the event Manny Pacquiao goes on for too long, you'll begin to understand where I'm coming a little more I feel. I sure hope, anyway.

 

i kinda agree with this statement. pac still hasnt reached his peak we have to consider that tbh. do not just focus on morales' side of the coin. i'm not being a ******* on this statement. i just feel that we have to consider pac's 'prime' in terms of boxing ability in the 1st and 2nd fight with el terible

 

Most likely, but your statement is totally irrelevant in this discussion. Faded Morales beat a most likely better ATG PacMan in his prime. Haters need to accept that.

 

Do you really need to word it that way? :verysad

You're short changing Morales by simply calling him a warrior. He was a terrific fighter, one of the very best of the last 25 years not to just come out of Mexico, but anywhere on the planet. If only Manny had come to prominence a few years earlier than he did, we'd have seen some unbelievable wars between Morales and Pacquiao. Under no question.

Manny Pacquiao certainly gets credit in abundance, he's practically the most popular fighter in Boxing today. The only problem I have is that some people view Morales, Barrera, Marquez, and Pacquiao as like the mini fab four - when in reality, Barrera and Morales were from different times to the others. When they were fighting all out wars against the best fighters in the world, Marquez was getting badly managed which extended his longevity, and Pacquiao was a no name. Different era's. Different times.

 

You're the one trying to discredit his win by doubting how great Pacquiao was at that point in time. He was good enough to go into the fight as the favorite, and coming off spectacular showings against Marquez and Barrera, two of the best fighters of the last 20 years. Whichever way you turn it, Morales put on a great performance against a great fighter. Manny has improved since, no question, but like I said before, nobody can take away that night for Morales. He earned it.

 

ok ok, now STFU and move on with your pathetic life..

 

If you having nothing constructive to say, **** off please. Thanks. :good

 

I thought morales was weight-drained in the 3rd fight, no question about it...still good win for manny....

however, the people that managed pacquiao's fights were idiots at the time when they did the first morales fight...it was manny's first fight at 130, and they thought they could roll-over a morales coming off a loss to barrera at the time....boy were they wrong....

When they did this the next time, they made sure they picked an easier opponent the next time they moved up in wieght, david diaz...