Erik Morales claims a win is possible for "The Tijuana Tornado"
There’s been a heck of a lot of talk on how Antonio Margarito can dismantle the seemingly invincible Manny Pacquiao when they face off on November 13, and most of it has been dismally unqualified.
But now arguably the only man with knowledge on the subject, Erik “El Terrible” Morales, has come out with some matters of fact. Morales, the sole boxer to beat Pacquiao in the ring since 1999, says that he believes fellow Mexican Margarito can triumph
over “Pacman” if he just can get the right kind of shot off.
Quoted by boxingscene.com, Morales said: “Margarito does have a chance of winning, although nothing is guaranteed. He [Margarito] could take ten hits from Pacquiao, but if he plants himself and lands one shot on Pacquiao, things could be finished,” the
Mexican fighting legend affirmed.
Morales had three legendary wars with Pacquiao, the first of which he claimed by winning a unanimous decision. For his efforts, Morales won the vacant WBC International title and the IBA super featherweight championship. On a more symbolic level he was
heralded as the man with the formula for beating Pacquiao.
In the fight Morales stood toe-to-toe with Pacquiao and refused to let him get the final blows of exchanges. He matched him shot for shot, jabbed often and neutralized Pacquiao’s lightning speed with hard counter shots that had Pacquiao confused and irritated.
Morales was aided by the fact that Pacquiao sustained a cut in the fifth round that made fighting particularly difficult since blood kept stinging his eye and affecting his sight.
A second fight with Morales in 2006 saw Morales escape two knock-downs in the second round, indicating that Pacquiao had improved on his past weaknesses with Morales and learned how to overcome “El Terrible.” In the tenth round Pacquiao scored a brilliant
knock-out of Morales, the first time he had been knocked out in over 50 fights.