A one-dimensional fighter.

Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao bade goodbye to this tag yesterday by using a variety of weapons in a masterful 10th round technical knockout over Erik Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, avenging his loss to the Mexican in March 2005.

Pacquiao showed Morales many weapons in his suddenly-packed arsenal, the newest of which was a right hook that practically paved the way for his trademark left hook that spelled the Mexican's doom in the 10th round. The official time was 2:33 when Morales was decked for the second time compelling referee Kennie Bayless to halt the fight. Getting better and better as the fight wore on, Pacquiao, who improved to 41-3 with his 33rd knockout, had landed 196 of 795 punches thrown that proved too much for Morales (48-4), who suffered the first knock down of his 13-year professional career.

Apparently learning from the mistakes he committed from their March 19,2005 match won by Morales via unanimous decision, Pacquiao executed the game plan laid out by trainer Freddie Roach to near perfection, sprinkling his offense with shots to the body and terrific lateral defense, making his rival's vaunted counter-punching ineffective most of the time. In an interview with ABS-CBN, Pacquiao said he trained hard refining his right hook and it made a difference in the fight.

"Yung right hook na-improve...talagang nagkaroon ng improvement (My right hook has improved)," said Pacquiao, adding that when he stepped onto the ring for the fight, he was a complete fighter and confident Morales will be crushed.

"My jabs, my left and right hooks and body shots shook him," said the 27-year-old Pacquiao.

Pacquiao said he sensed Morales was already weary in the sixth round, where he immediately buckled down to work on the body and set up the head shots that overwhelmed Morales, who actually controlled the first, third and fourth rounds.

Pacquiao suffered a swollen left hand from the fight while the Morales was taken to a hospital with a battered face, ABS-CBN reports said.*CPT

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