Posted 09:57am (Mla time) Aug 02, 2004
By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A28 of the August 2, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
NO, it was not one for Ripley's. It could've happened anytime, anywhere.
But, for Muhammad Ali's sake, did you see what Erik Morales and Carlos Hernandez did to each other in the 12th and final round of their world super featherweight unification bout Sunday?
They hugged like loving brothers, then proceeded to lock horns and blast at each other in one of the most brutal final three minutes of a world boxing championship.
It was both warm and amazing.
You see, it's normal for championship fighters to first touch gloves before digging in for the 12th and final round.
No, that practice is not a requirement.
It's an optional move that's often overlooked, no thanks to the savage climate inside the ring.
But a brotherly hug before the two combatants try to kill each other in the final three minutes?
* * *
Well, you can bet it was borne out of mutual respect.
Hernandez, Famoso in his birthplace in the Dominican Republic, gave it all.
QUOTE
In a tireless, bell-to-bell, blitz bid to pin Morales and steal the WBC 130-lb title from the sharp, good-looking Tijuana native.
The gutsy Hernandez, described as a Jake Lamotta-type, did not succeed.
But it could not be said that he did not draw any respect, if not full-scale awe, from Morales.
Yes, Hernandez, the IBF super featherweight champ who trained together with our own Manny Pacquiao in Freddie Roach's Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood last year, did win something like three rounds.
He was also ever on the charge but was, on the whole, controlled by Morales who worked his fire-breathing foe the way a matador would a raging bull.
* * *
The fight, for the unification of the WBC-IBF 130-lb championships, was indeed anything but boring.
Both fighters were accorded a standing ovation after the final bell.
Morales had visibly been pushed to the limit, the reason his countrymen at ringside finished the final three minutes on their feet.
Hernandez came short in many areas, mainly on defense and ringmanship.
He often dug in blindly, thereby leaving Morales room to shove, hold, stall and manipulate with aplomb.
On the whole, it's easy to say that, even before the unanimous verdict was made, the unification victory could go down as one of Morales' masterpieces.
* * *
Now, come to think of it, wasn't it Pacquiao who should've clashed with Morales, instead of Hernandez Sunday?
Remember that, before his controversial draw against Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas last May, Pacquiao was being lined up to take on Morales next.
This same aborted fight was the reason behind several text messages which wondered if Pacquiao could handle the sharp, strong, super talented Morales.
"Kaya po ba ni Manny si Morales?" asked my godson, Ronald Layug.
Well, frankly speaking, your reporter here had thought Pacquiao could be equal to the challenge and be able to give Morales a run for his money.
This reporter's assessment had to be revised after having witnessed Morales go through the griller Sunday.
* * *
Before everything else, it should be reported that Pacquiao's return match against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, after being shelved by HBO, could possibly push through in November.
This was confirmed by Pacquiao handlers, headed by business manager Rod Nazario, who said Murad Muhammad, Pacquiao's promoter in the United States, claimed revival negotiations have been fruitful, so far.
Now, with Pacquiao reportedly aiming to go after the so-called triumvirate of Mexican boxing, namely, Barrera, Marquez and ultimately Morales, the sky, indeed, seems to be the limit for the Filipino world boxing celebrity.
Just fine. But granting he's able to repeat over Barrera, then succeeds in a rematch against Marquez, would Pacquiao be a safe bet against Morales?
The answer from here is a big NO. Not yet.
Pacquiao, a one-track fighter like Hernandez, could be ready for Morales only if he's able to mature and add new dimensions to his game.
Basically a slugger, Pacquiao could hit the jackpot only with a knockout.
In truth, though, he will have to learn and unlearn new tricks in order to be at level with the shifty, fast-adjusting Mexican ringmaster who, as had been proven Sunday, thrives best in adversity.
The gutsy Hernandez, described as a Jake Lamotta-type, did not succeed.
But it could not be said that he did not draw any respect, if not full-scale awe, from Morales.
Yes, Hernandez, the IBF super featherweight champ who trained together with our own Manny Pacquiao in Freddie Roach's Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood last year, did win something like three rounds.
He was also ever on the charge but was, on the whole, controlled by Morales who worked his fire-breathing foe the way a matador would a raging bull.
* * *
The fight, for the unification of the WBC-IBF 130-lb championships, was indeed anything but boring.
Both fighters were accorded a standing ovation after the final bell.
Morales had visibly been pushed to the limit, the reason his countrymen at ringside finished the final three minutes on their feet.
Hernandez came short in many areas, mainly on defense and ringmanship.
He often dug in blindly, thereby leaving Morales room to shove, hold, stall and manipulate with aplomb.
On the whole, it's easy to say that, even before the unanimous verdict was made, the unification victory could go down as one of Morales' masterpieces.
* * *
Now, come to think of it, wasn't it Pacquiao who should've clashed with Morales, instead of Hernandez Sunday?
Remember that, before his controversial draw against Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas last May, Pacquiao was being lined up to take on Morales next.
This same aborted fight was the reason behind several text messages which wondered if Pacquiao could handle the sharp, strong, super talented Morales.
"Kaya po ba ni Manny si Morales?" asked my godson, Ronald Layug.
Well, frankly speaking, your reporter here had thought Pacquiao could be equal to the challenge and be able to give Morales a run for his money.
This reporter's assessment had to be revised after having witnessed Morales go through the griller Sunday.
* * *
Before everything else, it should be reported that Pacquiao's return match against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, after being shelved by HBO, could possibly push through in November.
This was confirmed by Pacquiao handlers, headed by business manager Rod Nazario, who said Murad Muhammad, Pacquiao's promoter in the United States, claimed revival negotiations have been fruitful, so far.
Now, with Pacquiao reportedly aiming to go after the so-called triumvirate of Mexican boxing, namely, Barrera, Marquez and ultimately Morales, the sky, indeed, seems to be the limit for the Filipino world boxing celebrity.
Just fine. But granting he's able to repeat over Barrera, then succeeds in a rematch against Marquez, would Pacquiao be a safe bet against Morales?
The answer from here is a big NO. Not yet.
Pacquiao, a one-track fighter like Hernandez, could be ready for Morales only if he's able to mature and add new dimensions to his game.
Basically a slugger, Pacquiao could hit the jackpot only with a knockout.
In truth, though, he will have to learn and unlearn new tricks in order to be at level with the shifty, fast-adjusting Mexican ringmaster who, as had been proven Sunday, thrives best in adversity.
"I did not feel his power" 
That was something to remember. Morales already had the fight won but he gave Pacquiao a change to win it right there. Pacquiao just couldn’t take advantage of it and knock him out, though. 