LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – Erik Morales dispelled any concerns about his ability to make the weight for Saturday’s super featherweight showdown with Manny Pacquiao, coming in one pound below the 130-pounds limit at the official weigh-in.
Mexican Morales had been contractually bound to pay Pacquiao $500,000 for every pound he weighed above the limit, but both fighters came in at 129lbs at Friday’s weigh-in.
The much-anticipated clash at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas will be the third meeting between the two fighters, with both ‘El Terrible’ Morales and ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao each holding one victory.
Game Console Wars The video game industry’s own clash of the titans reboots this week with the midnight launch of Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Sunday’s debut of Nintendo’s Wii.
Full coverage The first bout in March 2005 saw but Morales emerge a unanimous points winner, but Pacquiao, an icon in his native Philippines, came out on top in another classic in January, winning on a TKO in the 10th round after weathering an early Morales storm.
Morales cited weight problems as one of the major reasons for his loss in that last fight, coupled with the “mistake” of replacing his father, Jos, with another trainer.
The elder Morales had coached his son throughout his professional career, and will be back in his corner on Saturday night.
For Morales, Saturday’s contest will mark the conclusion of his second trilogy in two years. He fought fellow Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera three times between 2000 and 2004, winning the first and losing the next two in what is regarded as one of the greatest ring rivalries of all time.
