When it was all over, Morales appeared very much like the winner of the scheduled 12-rounder with only minor welts to show off.
Pacquiao, in contrast, had the look of one whose face had been ran over by a lawnmower. It was almost disfigured from the incessant blows of Morales who skillfully targeted a cut above the Filipino’s right eyebrow.
All three judges, Paul Smith, Dave Morreti and Chuck Giampa, scored it 115-113. The Bulletin also had the same score.
The loss was Pacquiao’s first since September 1999 when he was stopped by Medgoen 3K Battery in Thailand. Morales’ triumph also broke Pacquiao’s 15-fight win streak. He had two draws against Agapito Sanchez in 2001 and Juan Manuel Marquez last year.
Pacquiao was clearly hampered by a nasty gash above the right eyebrow which he suffered in the fifth round. It was ruled a legitimate blow by referee Joe Cortez, but television replays showed that the wound was opened by an accidental clash of heads.
Morales had his finest moments in rounds two, four, five, six, eight, ten and eleven as he peppered Pacquiao with jarring right straights, overhands and uppercuts, but it was the fifth frame that proved pivotal although credit must go to cutman Lenny de Jesus, who made it possible for the ring doctor to let the Filipino continue fighting.
Pacquiao took the first round thanks to a spirited finish that had the crowd on its feet at the sound of the bell. But Morales found his range beginning the fourth round as he befuddled the Filipino southpaw with his excellent lateral movement.
Pacquiao’s biggest round was the 12th when he came on the verge of knocking down his underdog rival following Morales’s decision to shift to lefty.
As the final bell sounded, the huge crowd, made up of flag-waving Filipinos and Mexicans, were on their feet.
According to Compubox stats, Morales threw a total of 714 punches and 265 landed for 37 percent, while Pacquiao loaded up with 894 and only 217 that landed for a measly 24 percent.
Morales unloaded with 411 power punches and 159 connected for 41 percent, while Pacquiao fired 545 and only 183 made its target for 34 percent.
There were 303 jabs thrown by Morales and 96 landed, while Pacquiao drilled in 349 and 34 only landed.
At the post-fight news conference held at the media center, Morales admitted that Pacquiao was indeed tough, gutsy and hard-hitting. Morales said he was never in trouble despite absorbing some of Pacquiao’s best punches.
Pacquiao blamed the gloves he was forced to use as contributing to his loss. They were softer and bigger, the kind he refused at first to wear but had to after his manager Murad Muhammad had agreed to to its use.
"You can see it’s like cotton," said his trainer Freddie Roach during a post-fight interview, displaying the gloves.
Morales said he felt he was in full control of the fight.
"He was a tough guy. I hit him with everything,’’ Morales said.
"I knew the guy was quick. I knew boxing would be the key because he was so fast.’’
It was the first fight at 58 kilograms (130 pounds) for Pacquiao, and Morales appeared to be both the bigger fighter and the bigger puncher. Pacquiao fought inside with flurries, but it was the right hand of Morales (48-2) that was the big punch in the fight.
Still, Pacquiao landed effectively with both hands himself and he kept punching and coming forward and in the 12th round seemed to be landing the bigger punches.
"It was a close fight with a lot of close rounds,’’ Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach said. ``Morales landed the bigger punches but Manny landed more combinations.’’
Neither fighter went down, but it wasn’t because of a lack of effort. They brawled at a relentless pace that brought back memories of Morales’ three fights with Marco Antonio Barrera.
"I tried my best,’’ Pacquiao said.
Morales kept his left jab on the cut over Pacquiao’s eye, but said he didn’t think the fight would be stopped.
"I wasn’t focused on them stopping the fight,’’ he said. ``I wanted to punish him.’’
Pacquiao, wearing a dark pair of glasses, did not put the blame on anyone in his team when asked about his thoughts, but expressed his desire to make a comeback.
"I will be back probably to fight in this division again," said Pacquiao, whose loss disappointed thousands of Fil-Americans and several countrymen who had flown here to give him support.
This group was led by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, several congressmen and governors plus a slew of other celebrities. –With reports from AP
