Morales-Pacquiao 3, dubbed the "Grand Finale," might just as well been called "Erik's Grand Finale."

All it took was three brutal rounds for Manny Pacquiao to destroy the once invincible Erik Morales last night in front of the more than 18,000 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The days appears over where Morales, one of the greatest Mexican warriors in boxing history, can still be a dominant force in the lighter weight classes. No other fighter enters the ring to such a loyal throng of supporters - not even Oscar De La Hoya - but last night Morales' fans were destined for disappointment. "Pac-Man" was a loaded gun and "El Terrible" was shooting blanks. Put simply, it was a vulgar display of power by the Filipino sensation.

Morales looked shakey from round one. In the first two fights Morales led Pacquaio after six rounds, but this time he looked spooked, lacking speed or conviction as he came at Pacquiao, perhaps conscious of trying to get at him early and avoid tiring in the later rounds. Pacquiao landed single shots and jumped out of harm's away, reversing the roles he and Morales played in their previous bouts. In the second round, Morales went down for the second straight fight and the third time in his career from a Pacquiao left hand. He wasn't taking the punches well, and it was an ominous sign of what was to come.

Round three featured perhaps the most brutal exchanges these two warriors have ever engaged in. Morales was dropped again, and upon rising the proud Mexican was determined to make a stand. Morales landed some hellacious punches to Pacquiao's face, including a right hand that landed flush, but the Filipino would not stop coming. His punches were faster and harder, and when he sent Morales crashing against the ropes a third time, he took the heart and fight out of his discouraged opponent. As Morales sat against the ropes and stared at his corner wearing a dejected look, referee Vic Drakulich counted him out. Manny Pacquiao had just treated Erik Morales like a pinata.

Morales, 48-5 (34), is a future hall-of-famer who has won titles in three weight classes and fought two of the fiercest trilogies in recent memory with Marco Antonio Barrera and Pacquiao. The once iron-jawed Tijuana native is just a shell of his former self. Eschewing the tactical boxer-puncher style that brought him victory in their fist fight for toe-to-toe slugging, Morales allowed Pacquiao to run all over him. And that he did. Pacquiao, 44-3-2 (33), an awesome machine of muscle adrenaline and power, has improved his boxing skills since his first fight with Morales. A rematch with Barerra is on the horizon, but it's hard to imagine even the ring intelligence of Barrera can overcome the one-man wrecking ball that is Manny Pacquiao. Too fast, too strong, and too intense.

Not too long ago, those very words could have been used to describe Erik Morales.