Keys to victory

Manny Pacquiao’s recent win over Erik Morales was harder than it looked. To be sure, the Mexican gave it his all and didn’t want to lose.

Pacquiao had several shaky moments when Morales loaded up and seemed to take control with his precision punching. Right in the first round, Pacquiao was wobbled. And from rounds three to five, Morales appeared to be on the way to notching a repeat of his triumph over Pacquiao last March.

But the proud Filipino warrior wouldn’t be denied his place in world boxing history. He was determined to win, no matter how much punishment it took for the job to get done. Pacquiao absorbed Morales’ best shots and came back for more. Morales probably wondered if Pacquiao had turned into a machine because he didn’t appear to be a human being in the ring.

Both fighters let it all hang out like gladiators in a Roman coliseum fighting for their lives. They were like gunslingers facing off at high noon. The fans at the Thomas and Mack Center went crazy as the protagonists went for broke until finally, one crumpled to the canvas in defeat.

Here are the 10 factors that led to Pacquiao’s victory.

• Conditioning. Pacquiao was clearly in better physical shape. He had no difficulty making the 130-pound superfeatherweight limit. Morales, in contrast, squeezed himself dry. Down the stretch, Pacquiao was much fresher. Morales’ legs began to betray him in the sixth as exhaustion set in. In a war of attrition, stamina is the key to survival.

• Defense. Obviously, Pacquiao did his homework in the gym. He knew where Morales’ punches would come from and made the adjustments to avoid getting hit. Pacquiao swayed to Morales’ left after unleashing a combination to create distance and escape his counter right straight. His gloves were held up high to parry Morales’ jab. Morales got tired hitting Pacquiao’s gloves and arms–which was the point of the defense.

• Speed. There was never any doubt that Pacquiao is the quicker fighter. He had the advantage in both foot and hand speed. Pacquiao’s combinations were dizzying. When Morales tried to pin Pacquiao against the ropes or into a corner, the Filipino danced out of trouble. It was like Pacquiao could do no wrong.

• Combinations. Chastised by critics as a one-armed fighter, Pacquiao silenced his detractors by showing he, too, could punch with his right. He showed it in dismantling Hector Velazquez last September and he showed it again in disposing of Morales. The right hook was a potent weapon because as Morales guarded against it, the left became a dangerous option. Morales couldn’t solve the problem of defending against a two-fisted puncher.

• Body attack. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach figured Morales would be vulnerable to a body assault. Morales could’ve weighed as much as 145 pounds for the fight and Roach assumed he had a lot of undigested food in his tummy. So Pacquiao went to work early on his midsection, blasting away with unforgiving fury. Slowed down by his weight, Morales was an easy target for Pacquiao’s bombs to the ribs. Morales wilted under fire and had little left to offer in the late going. When he went down twice in the 10th round, not too many fans were surprised.

• Heart. No fighter has a heart bigger than Pacquiao’s. When the going gets tough, Pacquiao gets going. He showed incredible courage in withstanding Morales’ early broadsides. Pacquiao wasn’t scared of getting hurt or even of getting knocked out. Deep down in his heart, he knew he wouldn’t lose. He fought for the entire Filipino nation and that’s why he couldn’t lose.

• Relentlessness. Pacquiao was aggressive from start to finish. He insisted he was never hurt, only off-balance at times when Morales appeared to take the initiative. Pacquiao never retreated, that’s for sure. He pursued Morales from the opening bell and put the pressure on the Mexican. Morales tried to engage in the middle of the ring and that proved to be his undoing.

• Determination. It came down to which fighter was more determined to win. Pacquiao refused to give up. He was prepared for war at all costs. When Morales saw the tide turning in the sixth round, he began to fight defensively–as if to save himself from being badly hurt. Pacquiao took it as a sign to step up his attack. Bit by bit, Pacquiao broke down Morales’ will to win.

• Power.Pacquiao was comfortable using Cleto Reyes gloves which deliver punches with more impact than the cushiony Winning gloves that Morales wore. In a testament to Morales’ durability, he was not knocked out by a single punch. Pacquiao just wore him down and out. Still, the power of Pacquiao’s punches carried much more force than Morales’ and that made a big difference.

• Hunger. Morales has gone through a lot of wars and is financially set for life. His career is at an ebb. The loss to Pacquiao was the third in his last four outings and Morales just isn’t the same fighter he was five years ago when he lorded it over the lighter weight divisions. Pacquiao, on the other hand, is a star on the rise.