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Pac Man Got His Groove On In Quezon
TUE July 4, BUSTER PARIS - Honestly – not that easy a fight for Manny Pacquiao, not what you’d expect 4 months before one of the biggest fights of his life - and for the love of everything holy PLEASE, everyone – stop calling any fight in the Philippines a “thrilla” – there’s only one so PLEASE stop.
For anyone in the USA or UK – it was Saturday night July 1st 2006 – for those of you in Quezon City, Philippines it was Sunday morning – July 2nd – and the main attraction on the card fighting in Araneta Coliseum for the WBC International Super Featherweight Championship was challenger and first timer in the land of 130 lbs – Oscar “Chololo” Larios (56 Wins – 36 by way of knockout, 5 losses and 1 draw) taking on the champion, legend and Quezon’s answer to Elvis - Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao (42 Wins – 33 by way of KO, 3 losses and 2 draws).
As I’ve said – this wasn’t that easy a fight for Manny – don’t get me wrong – looking at my scorecard and the judges scorecards it clearly shows Pacquiao winning – no possible doubt about it: Judge Humbert Furgoni had the bout scored 117-110, Judge Daniel Van de Wiele had it 118-108 and Judge Noppharat Sricharoen scored it 120-106 - all for Pac Man – score-wise – it’s a no brainer.
Also -- throughout the fight you never had the sense that Manny was in any danger, I’m simply stating that he did have a bit of hard time with Larios and it wasn’t a fun filled tune up before his November rubber match against “El Terrible” himself … Erik Morels.
I think what gave Manny a hard time was that Oscar was a very quick and extremely tough crafty opponent. He was able to get off combinations and bombard Manny at times with big punches – Manny was constantly getting hit, but the punches themselves weren’t doing any real damage. Oscar also did exceptionally well at backing away from Pac Man – not getting tagged full force and then standing his ground and trading big shots with Manny.
Basically – Larios held his own, showed a lot of heart, was consistent in exchanging leather with Manny and he went the full 12 twelve rounds.
For Pacquiao’s part he looked good, not great, but really damn good.
Manny got his groove on by the 5th round and introduced this very cool move that I’ve never seen from him before – it was almost like when a basketball player fakes the guy guarding him out of his shorts – he starts to go one way, then before you know it he’s gone – and unfettered is freely driving the other way and in for an easy lay-up – well, Pacquiao had a very similar move where he’d start right in front of Oscar, toe to toe and before you knew it he was surprisingly to the right or left of Larios popping off jabs and pulverizing the ribs, belly or chest … it really was very cool.
Pacquiao started off somewhat slow (for him), but did pick up speed and would ultimately let his hands go - ripping out 7 to 9 punches in a flurry at a time.
Manny also knocked Oscar down in the 7th round with 2 big shots to Larios’s head – then as the 7th neared its end Pacquiao wobbled Oscar and sent him back to his corner a bit dazed. Manny would also knock Larios down again in the 12th round.
All in all the fight was thrilling, but NOT a “Thrilla” even though it was in Quezon City – yes the same place as “The Thrilla in Manila” (1975), but c’mon – this wasn’t another Thrilla in Manila – so please don’t go there …
Pacquiao clearly won this fight, but I thought he would have won more easily, I thought that this would have been a great showcase for Manny to dominate and unconditionally prove his greatness as THE Super Featherweight in boxing.
He did prove he’s a great fighter, but he did have somewhat of a tough time with Larios – who was fighting for the first time at this weight – and maybe I’m just being glum and cynical, but that concerns me a little … and there’s no room for that kind of shadow of a doubt when you’re heading into one of the biggest rubber matches of the past couple years … and facing one of the toughest guys in boxing history – who also is one of the most dangerous men in the world right now …
A well-rested and vengeful Erik “El Terrible” Morales.
Buster Paris can be reached at: bparis@talkingboxing.com - and always enjoys receiving your thoughts, comments and questions
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