LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales are ready for their third set-to and both fighters believe it will be the best one yet.
Sun.Star Network Online coverage of the Pacquiao-Morales Sunday fight here
Just observe the grin on Pacquiao’s face as he stepped on the scale with hundreds of Filipino fans cheering his name Friday (Las Vegas time) — or watch Morales’s swell of pride as he hears Mexican fans chanting his name at the same weigh-in.
Two of the world’s most entertaining fighters both believe they’re about to make history Saturday (Las Vegas time).
After splitting two thrilling matches in the previous 20 months, the junior lightweights will complete one of boxing’s better trilogies in recent years in front of a sellout Las Vegas crowd and a television audience stretching from Manila to Mexico City.
Pacquiao’s reputation and Morales’s career probably hang on the outcome of a much-anticipated return to the ring for two classic brawlers who inspire worship in their native lands — and in Las Vegas, where their 130-pound matchup is the toughest ticket in town.
There’s little bad blood in “The Grand Finale,” as it’s being billed, but Pacquiao (42-3 with two draws and 32 KOs) is confident he can keep his meteoric career on the rise with a second straight victory over Morales (48-4, 34 KOs), the famed slugger whose first trilogy, with Marco Antonio Barrera, already has a place in boxing history.
“I’m not going to promise I’m going to knock him out, but I’m doing my best to make people happy,” said Pacquiao, who sparred 150 rounds during training. “I’m very confident to win this fight, but I know Morales is still a good fighter.”
Morales won their first bout with a unanimous decision in March 2005, surprising Pacquiao with his tenacity and pride.
Pacquiao, who fought valiantly through a bloodied face in the final rounds, blamed his only loss since 1999 on distractions from his management, his personal life – even his gloves.
And just as Pacquiao has done repeatedly in the career that has made him a demigod in the Philippines, he rebounded with a vengeance.
In the rematch 10 months ago in Las Vegas, Pacquiao remedied his mistakes and battered Morales with waves of punches, bruising his face and body before dropping him twice in the 10th round for the first TKO loss of Morales’s career.
This time, Morales went back to work with his father, Jose, back in his corner after being absent for the second fight.
“I’m going to win, and I have two motivations,” Morales said. “One is for the fans who want me to win. And two, for the guys who don’t want me to win. They make me work harder.”
Pacquiao won another fight in the Philippines and continued his dalliances with singing, endorsements and acting.
“El Terrible,” on the other hand, lost three in his last four fights.
Reports said Pacquiao is favored 3-1 to beat Morales in their 12-round showdown Saturday (Las Vegas time).
In the Philippines, fewer passenger jeepneys are expected to ply the streets as drivers take a break to watch the much-awaited fight.
Some drivers said they would rather join the millions of Filipinos who will be glued to their TV sets than ply their routes to find the streets empty.
When Morales and Pacquiao fought last January, the drivers spent for gasoline traversing routes devoid of commuters.
During the Pacquiao-Morales fight in January, the police reported a crime rate of nearly zero in major cities during the hours leading up to the fight and after, congested streets were deserted and warring politicians sat side-by-side in movie theaters to watch the fight.
The fight, dubbed the “Grand Finale”, will be televised pay-per-view in several places. (AP/With reports from Sun.Star Cebu)
