10.09.05 - Jeff Bastasini: A dominant Manny Pacquiao (40-3-2, 31 KOs) had it easy defeating an overmatched Hector Velazquez (42-11-2, 16 KOs), in a sixth round TKO. Velazquez offered very little resistance to Pacquiao, who simply walked right in on Velazquez, and landing every punch he threw. The end was never in doubt from the opening rounds, as Velazquez didn't have the firepower to keep Pacquiao off him, as Erik Morales had done in their bout in March 2005. The fight was stopped at the 2:59 mark of the sixth round, with Pacquiao landing a devastating flurry that had Velazquez virtually defenseless and out on his feet.
Pacquiao wins, Morales loses!
By Francisco Salazar at ringside
Manny Pacquiao did his part, but Erik Morales stumbled against slickster Zahir Raheem Saturday night at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, throwing a wrench into a Morales-Pacquiao rematch. Raheem (27-1, 16 KOs) shocked Morales (48-3, 34 KOs), basically schooling him over twelve rounds. Morales fighting for the first time as a lightweight seemed slow as Raheem outboxed him over the first several rounds. Raheem had a big round five, landing many powershots. "El Terrible" picked up the pace in round six but Raheem continued to be effective with his speed, skills and workrate. Morales seemed to hurt Raheem in round eleven, but both fought on even terms in the final stanza. Scores were 118-110, 116-112, 115-113. By contrast, Pacquiao (40-3-2, 31 KOs) methodically broke down Hector Velazquez (42-11-2, 16 KOs) to earn a sixth round TKO. Pacman dropped Velazquez late in round six with a vicious barrage of punches and referee Lou Moret waved it off at 2:59. (More to come)
Saturday, September 10 2005