Last week I wrote an article on Manny Pacquiao titled "Manny the great?" debating whether Manny will go down as a great fighter or not. After re-watching the Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight I realized something that I tend to forget and that is just how predictable Manny can be.

       Pacquiao was able to drop Marquez three times in the first round but was never able to send him down for a fourth time.  The reason there was no fourth knockdown is simple; Marquez quickly learned what was coming at him. Pacquiao relies on two punches too much, his right jab followed by the straight left.

       Before I get swamped with e-mails let me say this; yes, I know Pacquiao has been very effective with his style. After all it was enough to get a TKO win over Marco Antonio Barrera, but it wasn't enough to keep Marquez down and it came up short against Erik Morales on the judges score cards. Erik Morales already fought twelve hard rounds against Pacquiao and I believe he knows how to prepare for the much anticipated re-match. What I'm saying is simple, Manny Pacquiao needs to learn a few new tricks and show Erik Morales he is not Mr. Predictable, that he's not the same Manny Pacquiao he fought last March. If Manny Pacquiao can send that message to Erik Morales, he also sends it to Marco Antonio Barrera who is very interested in a rematch with Manny.

       The left hand works and works well for Pacquiao, but I'm willing to bet his right hand can be just as effective and dangerous in any fight. If Manny Pacquiao walks into the ring on January 21st and fights the same fight he fought the first time, then I believe the outcome will be the same. However, if a more versatile Pacquiao shows up, then boxing fans can bet  the sky is the limit as far as Manny Pacquiao's career goes.

Questions? Comments? Email Kenny Perrault

1-16-2006