TalkingBoxing's Picks for Morales-Pacquiao
3/18 -
Dave Crellin
This is a heart versus head match - the heart will always be with Morales but the head says he's a man who could be on the way down. Will he be able to box as well as Marquez? I doubt it, and that, more than the size difference between the two, will be the deciding factor.
- Pacquiao by close but unanimous decision.
Frank Gonzalez Jr.
Look for Pacquaio to go right after Morales and try to end it early. Look for Morales to keep him under control on the outside and take Pacquaio into the deep waters of the Championship rounds, where all the questions will be answered. I have a hunch that a controversial decision will decide this contest and the result will be a new rivalry that sells a lot of tickets.
Luke Chance
Really tought pick, but I think given his size advantage, iron jaw and top notch sparring I am gonna go with El Terrible in a frighteningly close twelve round points decision! Provided Pac doesnt catch him with a monster shot early, I think Erik should have the skills to box his way to a decision.
Joe Beauchamp
I go with Pacquiao!
Andres Antonio Carriedo
Morales TKO10.
Julius Stecker
Morales will win by 10th Round TKO. Pac Man will drop
Morales early, but Morales's Size and Strength will
Lead to the Demise of 'The Pac Man' in the later
rounds. While my predictions are not always close, one thing
is for sure. This will be a Helluva Fight.
Jose Martino
- Morales by decision.
Brian skjold
If you sit down and think about this match-up, it’s hard not to get excited! There are plenty of variables, strengths, and weaknesses on either side, but this fight will boil down to one thing…CHIN. Erik Morales has a world class one, and Manny Pacquiao has a questionable one. In this fight chin will beat power.
- Morales TKO 10. PacMan lays the leather early, but El Terrible dumps him late.
Coyote Duran
I don't think Morales is going to walk into this one with blinders on. Pacquiao isn't like Barrera. As everyone knows, Barrera is no longer a face-first brawler like Pacquiao can be. Morales will use Pacquiao's foreward momentum against him, much like a judo expert would do. When Manny lunges forward with the straight combos, I expect Erik to use head movement and footwork leading into quick uppercuts to negate Pacquiao. Remember: Morales' warrior spirit took this fight to validate his bravery and pride. he's not coming to lose. Therefore, my prediction is:
- Morales TKO 9 Pacquiao with 12 seconds left on the clock (2:48 into round).
Jason Herron
World War III. Look for Pacquiao to charge at the opening bell, looking for a quick knockout. Morales will barely survive. Pacquiao will tire in the middle rounds and Morales will pounce. The action will be furious and continuous. Pacquiao will land the more telling blows down the stretch and pull out a close, but well deserved, unanimous decision.
Richard McManus
Morales’ versatility, boxing skills and overall strength are the keys
to
victory for him in this one. Pacquiao is an outstanding fighter but
relies
too heavily on his left hand. Morales has a chin of granite and the
experience necessary to weather the early storm. Pacquiao will
probably
have some good moments in the fight particularly when he lands his
trademark
left hand on El Terrible’s chin but in the end Morales is going to make
the
necessary adjustments to outbox and outland Pac Man on his way to a
unanimous decision win.
- Morales by decision
Buster Paris
I’ll try and be brief. I know we all have lots to say. The question is everywhere – there’s no escaping it. Every time I think about this Saturday (March 19) the question pops up. “Whose going to win the Morales-Pacquiao fight?” I’ve got a couple of quick thoughts on it
(1) It’s going to be one of the best fights of 2005. Come December when we’re all thinking about the fight of the year we will all think back to March 19th 2005
(2) We will all be amazed at what happens. No matter what happens, no matter who wins, we’re all going to talk about those moments when…
(3) This will become an awesome rivalry. It’s not over Saturday, not by a long shot.
My predictions are pretty specific:
- I think the fight will go the distance.
– I think Morales will “win” the fight.
– I think Pacquiao will be “given” the decision.
Carl Rice
This is a tough fight to call...in my mind, 2 of the top 10 pound for pound fighters are going head up. There are two different dynamics going on; the size of Morales, his reach, and his preferring to fight on the inside. Then there's the compact power of Pacquiao and his ability to bob and weave his way inside. And, of course, there's the straight left hand of Pacquiao versus the straight right from Morales. I think that Pacquiao has the advantage infighting; it would be different if Morales was a master boxer rather than what he is, a tough fighter who can box but doesn't most of the time.
His decision to fight with Pacquiao will lead to his undoing. Pacquiao, after taking some hard shots from Morales when on the outside, will effectively get inside. Morales will oblige and Pacquiao will be the first man to stop Morales, even going down himself. Morales corner will stop the fight in the 7-9th round because Morales is too much of a warrior to ever quit.
Luke Callahan
- Morales takes a hard fought, rather close decision. I expect controversy with the decision whichever way the three judges may fall.
Morales 8 Votes | Pacquiao 5 Votes
Discuss this at our Boxing Forum
