PACQUIAO DEFEATS MORALES IN 3RD ROUND KO

Photos by Will Hart

It only took Manny Pacquiao three rounds to prove himself the stronger, faster fighter. In a surprise ending to the two fighter's legendary trilogy, Manny Pacquaio completely dismantled Erik Morales from the very beginning and scored a third round KO victory over Morales.

The two fighters both came out trading blows and engaging each other in vicious exchanges to the feverish clamoring of the crowd, which spilled into the aisles of the Thomas and Mack center in Las Vegas. While Pacquaio won the first round by meeting Morales' attacks with tactful counters and explosive speed, it was the second round when the seams began to show.

A much more aggressive Pacquaio set into Morales almost instantly into the second round. Pacquaio, attacking early and often, looking to challenge Morales' stamina, scored a knockout late into the second round. Rather than keeping Pacquaio at a distance and analyzing Pacquiao's strategy, Morales fought an older fight than he was capable in the end. Instead, he handed Pacquaio an early holiday present by standing in front of a much faster, much more conditioned fighter.

By the third round, Pacquiao's speed was clearly causing Morales difficulty, his punches missing the mark and his footwork looking sloppy. On the other side of the ring, Pacquiao's energy level was increasing and his right hand starting making it mark on Morales, with thudding blows dropping him once and then, finally, a second time. 2:57 into the third round, Pacquiao stood opposite a beaten opponent, waiting out the ten count to put a cap on an admirable career.