'Fireball' Manny Pacquaio duly adopted by US fans, Merchant says

(We now return you to our usual dripping sarcasm and poisonous venom...)

A capsule description of Vitali Klitschko's complete battering over game but overmatched Chris Arreola on HBO Saturday night from the Staples Center in Los Angeles would be this: It was like Marquez-Mayweather but without the excitement.

Seriously, this one would ended up 11-1 in rounds in favor of the BC heavyweight champion from the Ukraine as Arreola's most effective technique was bawling like a baby in defeat.

Come on, Cristobal (or "La Quesadilla" as he had Michael Buffer jokingly introduce him), you know there is no crying in boxing.

The slaughter was ended at the close of the 10th round, a round in which VK hammered the Mexican American challenger with both hands. Arreola's head was beginning to look like a well used speed bag.

More compelling than the bout was the closing commentary of HBO's Three Wise Men, Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Manny Steward.

Here's their verbal shots:

In reference to Vitali and heavyweight champ brother Wladimir not being wildly popular in America, Merchant made reference to Manny Pacquiao being "a fireball" who style endears him the US audience so much that it has "adopted" the Pinoy Idol.

Lampley took a wicked shot at the careless preparation of Good Time Charley Arreola and mentioned, without mentioning Arreola by name, that no fighter who goes out partying for 10 days when he is supposed to be training will beat anyone named Klitschko.

As for Steward, he put in a plug for the K Brothers to fight each other. He would profit nicely as he trains younger brother Wlad and mentioned that they used to have vicious sparring sessions.

After the replay of Marquez-Mayweather, Floyd was interviewed by satellite from his Big Boy Mansion in Las Vegas.

Mayweather continued his new Nice Guy routine complete with kind words about Pacquiao, about Shane Mosley and continuing apologies to their HBO announce crew of Lampley, Merchant, Steward and also Max Kellerman.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m9d27-Fireball-Manny-Pacquaio-duly-adopted-by-US-fans-Merchant-says