PACQUIAO, MANNY-ERIK MORALES I RESERVED SEAT CREDENTIAL (2005)

HISTORY: On March 19, 2005 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales fought for the vacant IBF and WBC super featherweight titles. Morales prevailed winning a unanimous 12 round decision. Morales entered the fight ranked No. 2 at 130 pounds by The Ring, and Pacquiao was recognized as World Featherweight Champion by the publication. This was Pacquiao's first fight in the 130-pound division. Pacquiao was a 7-5 betting favorite. Morales was guaranteed $2.5 million and Pacquiao $1.75 million.
The fight was televised live on pay-per-view by HBO. It generated 350,000 buys and $15.7 million in revenue. Both boxers were weighed in their dressing rooms before the fight. Morales was 140 pounds and Pacquiao 139. Pacquiao sustained a deep cut over his right eye from a headbutt in the fifth round. "It was a big distraction," he said after the fight. The Los Angeles Times called the match "a brilliant fight . . . which left the sellout crowd of 14,623 standing and cheering through much of it." Morales landed 265 of 714 total punches (37 percent) and 169 of 411 power punches (41 percent). Pacquiao landed 217 of 894 total punches (24 percent) and 183 of 545 power punches (34 percent). The Associated Press and Harold Lederman, HBO's unofficial judge, scored the fight 116-112 for Morales. Less than a week before the fight, Pacquiao learned that his promoter, Murad Muhammad, had negotiated away his right to pick the brand of gloves he wanted to wear and gave Morales the choice. Morales picked Winning, which Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach later called "pillows." Japanese-made Winning brand gloves have the bulk of their padding near the fist, and Morales — with a history of brittle hands — preferred them. Pacquiao wanted to wear Cleto Reyes gloves, the Mexican-made brand with a reputation as a puncher's glove because the padding is distributed in such a way that the fighter's fist is not nearly as padded as it is in other brands. "I would have liked to use my gloves," Pacquiao said after the fight, "but I had to go with what was in the contract." Two days before the fight, the Nevada State Athletic Commission forced Pacquiao to take a blood test and an eye examination. The commission stated that Pacquiao had failed to submit to a mandatory medical examination within the prescribed 30-day period before the fight. Freddie Roach said Pacquiao had been examined at a California clinic on March 4, and the test results had been lost. Murad Muhammad had former FBI agent Warren Flagg call the doctor at the clinic and ask him to fax the test results to the commission. Flagg reported back to Muhammad that the examination had not been done within 30 days of the fight; It had been done in January. Muhammad was then accused of having the test results stolen. Shortly after losing to Morales, Pacquiao told Filipino talk show host Dong Puno that he felt dizzy and his head started to hurt after his blood was taken. The doctor told him to drink a lot of water, but he couldn’t because he was drying out to make weight. Pacquiao said he went into the fight feeling drained and weak.

Offered here is an original Reserved Seat Credential for this event.

FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original Reserved Seat Credential which names and pictures both fighters. Bold color and print. Bold, clear images. Clean front and back. Not creased or torn. Hole atop for neck chain. Minor edge wear. 4 1/4" x 7 1/2."