By Kevin Kincade

Photo © Chris Cozzone/FightWireImages.com

"Resplendent in his magnificent red and gold satin 'traje de luces' (suit of lights), amidst a flourish of trumpets, he marched on to the Plaza del Toros. The hysterical crowds fell silent as they spotted their adored sun god amongst the parade of footmen. He seemed the same -- confident, defiant, impeccable as usual in his white shirt, narrow red tie, red sash knotted at the waist, pink knee-high stockings, black ballet-style slippers, black astrakhan two-cornered hat and of course the symbolic pig-tail coleta attached to his hair, denoting matador, the star bullfighter. Today however, it was to be clipped, for the legendary El Cordobés, was to fight his last bullfight."

Taken from “The Last Bull Fight” by Luna Abdel Aziz

When you glance over Erik Morales’ record, it doesn’t take long to realize that it’s a virtual “Who’s Who” of the featherweight and junior featherweight divisions.  Names like Daniel Zaragoza, Junior Jones, Wayne McCullough, Kevin Kelley, Injin Chi, Paulie Ayala, Jesus Chavez, and Marco Antonio Barrera just leap off the page, to say nothing of a fellow named Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, who “El Terrible” will be facing for the third time this weekend. 

The two men are only separated by a little over two years of physical age, with Morales being 30 and Manny 27, and Erik has just five more contests of manhood under his belt; but men age differently in this sport.  Erik has been looking anything but “terrible” in his last couple of fights.  True, in his last win he bested Pacquiao over twelve rounds of disciplined warfare; but in the rematch just ten months later, he appeared gaunt and weight-drained while Pacquiao looked better than ever.  Has “Father Time” and years of blood-and-guts battles finally caught up with this proud champion?

On the other side of the coin, you really have to respect and appreciate all that the Pac-man has accomplished thus far as well.  He’s won titles all the way from flyweight, one of the original eight weight classes, up to jr. lightweight.  That’s championships over a stretch of fifteen lbs, which is quite significant for smaller fighters.  And, his competition hasn’t been too shabby either with names such as Chatchai Sasakul, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, and, of course, Morales, himself. 

The difference between the two, outside of style and heritage, is momentum.  Erik seems to be at the end of a long, great career, while Manny appears poised for even more conquests.  Two fighters of equal heart and will heading in opposite directions: a tale as old as the sport itself.

Morales-Pacquiao I was a case of “El Terrible” playing the part of the matador to Pacquiao’s bull.  Manny was constantly charging in, looking to spear Morales with his potent straight left, while Morales would sidestep the oncoming rush, using his jab and right as lances to make the bull pay for his aggression.  Skill-level was the obvious difference in their first fight as the more technically apt Morales put on a clinc against the limited Pac-man, who had one gear and no answers to the questions Erik was asking.

By the time the rematch came around, Morales had been out pointed by Zahir Raheem in a tune-up bout and looked slower than he ever had before, though he was just four lbs heavier than he was for Pacquiao I.  It was in the wake of this upset loss that the question began to be asked whether Morales’s best days were behind him.  Still, he went on with his plans to give Pacquiao another shot and it was almost as if two other men by the same name entered the ring on January 21st. 

Manny looked fluid with both the left and the right and had very little trouble getting into Erik’s chest and punishing his sapped body.  Erik looked at gaunt before the second Pacquiao fight as Roy Jones Jr. did before his first clash with Antonio Tarver.  He had no strength to fend off the ultra-determined Philappine and succumbed by way of the only stoppage loss in his career when Manny dropped him twice in the tenth round.  Simply put, it was a beating only slightly less one-sided than the one Pacquiao had put on Morales’ contemporary, Marco Antonio Barrera.

Was it the weight, or was it the lump sum of all the punishment Morales had endured over the years?  We truly won’t know until we see these two brave gladiators clash one more time.  Morales has altered his training regimen, opting to use modern methods ala Velocity Sports Performance in L.A.  They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks; but “El Terrible”, realizing that he’s not as young as he used to be, is doing what he must to be in the best possible condition Saturday night.  Thus is the pride and determination of a champion. 

Just as Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach went back to the drawing board following the first fight, now Morales is adjusting his game plan.

One can’t help but think of the heavyweight division of the 1970’s or the middleweights and welterweight divisions of the 1980’s when we had all of these talented fighters, full of championship pride, and determination to prove they were the best that they would not hesitate to take on the best and do it several times if need be.  Both Morales and Pacquiao come from extreme poverty, Erik from Tijuana Manny from the slums of General Santos City.  We know their stories well. 

What is admirable is that two men, who came from such humble beginnings and now experience such world-wide acclaim and fame (Pacquiao is a national treasure in his home country of the Philippines) can still fight with the hunger and determination of someone far less successful. 

That’s what makes these men champions and will more than likely ensure their enshrinement in the Hall of Fame someday.  What’s going to happen Saturday night?  Will Erik Morales recapture his youth?  Will Manny Pacquiao seize the spotlight once and for all in the lighter weight divisions?  Who will win?  Who always wins when two quality championship boxers decide to fight each other rather than taking easier fights?  The fans.  Both men will come to the ring with the attitude of victory or nothing and we will see the best of both.  However, momentum is a difficult force to slow, much less stop.  All things must come to an end sooner or later and while both men are close in age and close in number of fights fought, one merely has to look at their records in detail to see who has been in the more bruising fights.

Erik Morales has more mileage on his body than does Pacquiao; and that should be the “tale” behind the tale of the tape in this bout.

Can Erik Morales do it one more time?  Does he have one more great effort in him?  Yes, he does; but one gets the feeling that this is going to be the last one.  Whether or not his last great effort will be enough to overcome the human meat grinder known as Manny Pacquiao remains to be seen; but whatever happens Saturday night, Erik Morales has made his mark on the sport and deserves to be mentioned alongside the all-time greats. 

And the way Manny keeps racking up victories, he’ll be right there with “El Terrible” as both are posing for photos and signing autographs in Canastota years from now.  Every great bullfighter needs a great bull; and Morales with Barrera and now Pacquiao has had two.  Will it be the bull or the matador Saturday night?  Whoever comes out with the "W", the fans are going to be the winners this weekend. 

Viva Morales!!!  Viva Pacquiao!!   Ole'!!!!

Questions or comments:  kevin.kincade@citcomm.com