Former four-division champion, Erik Morales, has insight on Manny Pacquiao that most don’t having faced the Filipino star three times in his 19-year career.
Morales beat Pacman in their first bout via 12 round unanimous decision in 2005, but wasn’t as successful in his last two bouts versus the Filipino star in 2006, losing the second by TKO and the third by third round knockout.
With fight week kicking off Monday for Pacquiao’s Nov. 22 bout with the unheralded Chris Algieri, Morlaes gave his opinion on the keys to the bout being held at a 144-pound catchweight.
“He (Algieri) needs to use his boxing skills.,” Morales said of what Algieri has to do in order to beat Pacquiao. “Move and Jab and make sure he stays away from Pacquiao by using his size and reach.”
As fighters get older their fight style evolves over the years, some for the better and some for the worse. Morlaes said that Pacquiao’s style has progressed for the better, even more solid than when he beat him twice six years ago.
“Every boxer changes as they get older,” Morales said. “Some become more aggressive and some more cautious. Pacquiao is a more complete fighter now than when I fought him. He seems more patient and more intelligent in the ring.”
With him beating Pacquiao in their first bout by deciding it was best to make the fight an all-out brawl, Morlaes explained facing Pacman is what each fighter makes of it themselves.
“I don’t think is about his rhythm is about you making fight your fight,” he said. “I did it the first time I fought, Juan Manuel Marquez had his number and Algieri has too dictate the pace of the fight, he wants a boxing match and not a brawl with him”
Much has been made about the length of Algieri going into his bout this weekend with Pacquiao, and Morales also thinks that if there will be an upset Saturday night at The Venetian Macau, that it will be due to the lankiness of Algieri.
“He needs to keep away from Pacquiao’s power, keep him busy with the jab and make sure you land first and when he gets aggressive just counter him,” Morales explained. “Distance will be a big key.”
Pacquiao has been a part of several big-time fights and is used to the media attention and spectacle a pay-per-view bout entails. Algieri will be in his 21st professional bout compared to the barley made his television debut a few years ago, and this being his first PPV, Morlaes explained how he ultimately deals with that could play a major role in the outcome of the fight.
“Experience is important in any fight,” he said. “Pacquiao has been in some very big fights and knows how to perform in big fights. I am sure that if he wins one of the factors will be his experience in big fights.”
