05.07.06 – By Eddie Velez: During the 80’s and 90’s Roger “Black Mamba” Mayweather was also known as “The Mexican Assassin”. Of Mayweather’s 59 wins, 26 wins were against Mexican fighters. Mayweather’s ticket was punched by a few Aztec warriors like Chavez (twice), Juan Soberanes and Ray Lovato but needless to say he was a thorn in the side to his neighbors south of the border..
Fast forward to July 01, 2006 Manny Pacquiao just finishes laying a beating on Oscar Larios. Larios would be the third Aztec fighter he has faced in a row and the seventh out of his last eight fights. Unlike Roger Mayweather, whose majority of wins came against mid-level opposition, Pacquiao has fought Mexico’s cream of the crop. Morales & Barrera are fighting legends and he knocked both of them out. Manny easily defeated Larios who is as tough as nails, had a draw with Marquez, KO Velazquez, along with the undefeated Lucero.
To add the icing on the cake, Pacquiao started his career weighing 106 lbs (no that is not a typo). Now your non-boxing fan may think so what; big deal, In the Boxing World it is a big deal. There have been top-level fighters who have attempted to move up 5, 7, 10 pounds who have not been able to compete at a top level. Pac-Man has moved up 24 pounds! What’s really scary is he seems to be getting better and better.
Against Larios his defense was tight and his combos were punishing. Nothing against Larios who showed tremendous heart and even rocked Pac-Man in the third, in the end he was no match for the Pac-Man. Manny has come a long way, he is no longer that one handed fighter who just had one punch in his arsenal. Under Freddy Roach, the Pac-Man has become a complete fighter.
Manny’s next fight is his trilogy against Morales is in Nov. Morales defeated the Pac-Man in their first fight by Unanimous Decision it was a close fight but El Terrible gave Tijuana something to cheer about but that cheer would not last long. In the rematch Manny destroyed Morales, thus setting the third fight. Can Morales put the Pac-Man to sleep like Chavez did to Mayweather or will Pac-Man notch another win under his belt? My gut tells me that Manny will not be vacationing anytime soon in Cancun or Cozumel. He has become Mexico’s most wanted!