Boxing 101 with Pacquiao
Bleacher Talk
Nov 19, 2006
Nov 19, 2006
Boxing 101 with Pacquiao
Mark your calendar. November 19, 2006. Sunday. This will go down as the biggest fight in Philippine boxing history. You name it, it’s got it. And it’s a cinch to break every record in local boxing history in terms of “bigness.” What else is there to say when it already has everything one looks for in a great fight?
If you do a survey among sports fans, this will easily reach 100% awareness levels. I mean who in the local sports world doesn’t know what’s taking place at around 10 o’clock this morning? Who in the boxing world –not only the Philippines- doesn’t know what’s happening in Las Vegas?
You’re going to see everything in the country come to a halt, literally and figuratively. Traffic will be very light. Business will be so-so. And you’ll find Pinoys in only one place: in front of a screen. They’ll be seated in front of a TV at home or at a bar or movie theater nearby. I’m even willing to dare say that this will be the most-watched event in the history of Philippine sports, and this encompasses all previous audience records of basketball, the Olympics and even the exploits of our heroes of pool (billiards).
And with just about everything having been written about the fight, what else is there to talk about? Ah, now that’s a challenge! Everyone has talked about how Pacquiao is an odds-on favorite to whip Morales even if the Mexican is more superior from a technical side. The Pacman’s youth, power and stamina however, will overpower whatever edge Morales may have from a technical viewpoint.
So instead of doing more analysis and forecasts, let’s take a look at the fight as a case study or a demo of the sport of boxing! As students of the sport who either take up boxing at the gym or who just like to watch it on TV, the Grand Finale is also going to become a grand classroom lecture where one gets to apply/learn the basics of boxing.
Let’s take Pacquiao’s case. He’s not exactly your role model of a great technical boxer, but he’s up there at the top (at least top 3) of boxing’s pound-for-pound ratings. He doesn’t have the grace, moves and skills of a Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard. But he has so many other tools worth observing as he dismantles Morales today.
Pacquiao’s jab isn’t as pretty as Ali or Leonard’s. It’s more of a flick type of a jab that’s used as a set-up punch for his left straight. His jab comes from his chest and not from the level of his shoulders or chin as per the instructions of trainers to us frustrated boxers. But this “kink” is overcome by everything else in Pacquiao’s complete package of a boxer. It’s the power, speed and stamina that “exempt” the Pacman from looking as pretty as Ali on the ring.
His left straight is easily one of the strongest punches, if not the strongest, in the 130-pound division. And the other punches in his arsenal pack the same wallop after years of refining under the eyes of Freddie Roach. Look for Pacquiao’s left straight to follow behind a series of double right jabs. It’s your simple 1-1-2 combination. And he has more combos to boast of!
There is talk about Pacquiao developing his right hook. Look for it in another combo: double right jab + left straight + right hook, all with piston-like speed. You’ll also see right hooks hit the left side of Morales’ body when the fighting goes close range and when Morales decides to cover up (gloves up to cover his upper body and face). More body blows will come from combos of left hooks and uppercuts from both hands as Pacquiao will wear Morales down in the early rounds. Uppercuts will also be aplenty at the end of right hook-left uppercut combos.
And then you’ll have Pacquiao’s trademark staccato punching. It’s not the prettiest sight in boxing and is dumbfounding as it is technically wrong, but it works. Pacquiao is fond of throwing right jabs and and left straights in succession over and above the standard 4-punch combos. He often goes beyond four punches in these situations and this always has the opponent retreating. But instead of doing this with his feet square and planted to get the much-needed leverage, he’s doing it on the run, pressuring Morales no end.
Defense? Analysts say Pacquiao’s offense is his defense, and they’re right. Pacquiao’s defense doesn’t come out of a boxing textbook as he uses his speed, pressure and relentless punching to keep his opponents at bay. This is why he has the tendency to get tagged often as seen in his previous close fights against Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.
That in a nutshell, is boxing with Pacquiao as our model. But don’t take my word for it. Put on those gloves. Try boxing for a change and live it. Only then will you get to appreciate what it’s all about!
Mark your calendar. November 19, 2006. Sunday. This will go down as the biggest fight in Philippine boxing history. You name it, it’s got it. And it’s a cinch to break every record in local boxing history in terms of “bigness.” What else is there to say when it already has everything one looks for in a great fight?
If you do a survey among sports fans, this will easily reach 100% awareness levels. I mean who in the local sports world doesn’t know what’s taking place at around 10 o’clock this morning? Who in the boxing world –not only the Philippines- doesn’t know what’s happening in Las Vegas?
You’re going to see everything in the country come to a halt, literally and figuratively. Traffic will be very light. Business will be so-so. And you’ll find Pinoys in only one place: in front of a screen. They’ll be seated in front of a TV at home or at a bar or movie theater nearby. I’m even willing to dare say that this will be the most-watched event in the history of Philippine sports, and this encompasses all previous audience records of basketball, the Olympics and even the exploits of our heroes of pool (billiards).
And with just about everything having been written about the fight, what else is there to talk about? Ah, now that’s a challenge! Everyone has talked about how Pacquiao is an odds-on favorite to whip Morales even if the Mexican is more superior from a technical side. The Pacman’s youth, power and stamina however, will overpower whatever edge Morales may have from a technical viewpoint.
So instead of doing more analysis and forecasts, let’s take a look at the fight as a case study or a demo of the sport of boxing! As students of the sport who either take up boxing at the gym or who just like to watch it on TV, the Grand Finale is also going to become a grand classroom lecture where one gets to apply/learn the basics of boxing.
Let’s take Pacquiao’s case. He’s not exactly your role model of a great technical boxer, but he’s up there at the top (at least top 3) of boxing’s pound-for-pound ratings. He doesn’t have the grace, moves and skills of a Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard. But he has so many other tools worth observing as he dismantles Morales today.
Pacquiao’s jab isn’t as pretty as Ali or Leonard’s. It’s more of a flick type of a jab that’s used as a set-up punch for his left straight. His jab comes from his chest and not from the level of his shoulders or chin as per the instructions of trainers to us frustrated boxers. But this “kink” is overcome by everything else in Pacquiao’s complete package of a boxer. It’s the power, speed and stamina that “exempt” the Pacman from looking as pretty as Ali on the ring.
His left straight is easily one of the strongest punches, if not the strongest, in the 130-pound division. And the other punches in his arsenal pack the same wallop after years of refining under the eyes of Freddie Roach. Look for Pacquiao’s left straight to follow behind a series of double right jabs. It’s your simple 1-1-2 combination. And he has more combos to boast of!
There is talk about Pacquiao developing his right hook. Look for it in another combo: double right jab + left straight + right hook, all with piston-like speed. You’ll also see right hooks hit the left side of Morales’ body when the fighting goes close range and when Morales decides to cover up (gloves up to cover his upper body and face). More body blows will come from combos of left hooks and uppercuts from both hands as Pacquiao will wear Morales down in the early rounds. Uppercuts will also be aplenty at the end of right hook-left uppercut combos.
And then you’ll have Pacquiao’s trademark staccato punching. It’s not the prettiest sight in boxing and is dumbfounding as it is technically wrong, but it works. Pacquiao is fond of throwing right jabs and and left straights in succession over and above the standard 4-punch combos. He often goes beyond four punches in these situations and this always has the opponent retreating. But instead of doing this with his feet square and planted to get the much-needed leverage, he’s doing it on the run, pressuring Morales no end.
Defense? Analysts say Pacquiao’s offense is his defense, and they’re right. Pacquiao’s defense doesn’t come out of a boxing textbook as he uses his speed, pressure and relentless punching to keep his opponents at bay. This is why he has the tendency to get tagged often as seen in his previous close fights against Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.
That in a nutshell, is boxing with Pacquiao as our model. But don’t take my word for it. Put on those gloves. Try boxing for a change and live it. Only then will you get to appreciate what it’s all about!
***
Belated happy birthday to my mother, Pressy Navarro. Thanks for being there for us. We love you! >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
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