THE CAMPS of Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales have both agreed in principle to come face to face on November 6 and the purse and share of the two fighters on pay-per-view sales are the things that keep them from signing above the dotted line.
“It?s Morales,” Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario told the Bulletin yesterday moments after he spoke with promoter Murad Muhammad via long distance.
The venues being eyed to host the big-money showdown at 130 lbs. are Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to Nazario, who confirmed the story which came out in this paper on Tuesday.
Nazario revealed that Morales? twin super-featherweight titles, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and recently acquired International Boxing Federation (IBF), will be at stake in what is expected to turn out to be an explosive matchup.
“There are a few things that are being discussed but as far as I am concerned, we at Team Pacquiao are already bracing ourselves for Morales,” added Nazario, who flies to the US on September 8 with the GenSan southpaw.
Nazario should be back in Manila after six weeks to accompany his wife, Supreme Court Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, home before heading back a few days later to the States possibly with confidantes Ramon Lainez, Lito Mondejar and Gerry Garcia.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, already relishes the thought of being in the same ring with Morales, who is coming off a sensational win over Carlos Hernandez of El Salvador.
Pacquiao had just finished a workout at hie GenSan home when he expressed excitement over the prospects of locking horns with the Tijuana native nicknamed “El Terrible.”
“I am ready to face him at 130 lbs. Four pounds lang yan,” boasted Pacquiao, adding that he weighed in 136 during fight night against Juan Manuel Marquez.
“Dalawang titles ang hawak ni Morales at determinado akong kunin ?yon,” he added.
Pacquiao and Morales had been penciled to face each other on July 31, but promoter Bob Arum, Morales? promoter, opted to sign up Hernandez after the Filipino went 12 rounds with Marquez on May 8.
Although Pacquiao doesn?t hold a portion of the world featherweight titles, he is widely considered as the top fighter in the division. His meteoric rise stemmed from his stunning 11th round demolition of Marco Antonio Barrera last year at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
It had earlier been reported that Pacquiao and Barrera are slated to meet on November 27, but talks bogged down when Barrera reportedly trained his sights on a third fight with Morales.
Richard Schaefer, the Chief Executive Officer of Barrera?s promotional group Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), said the date November 27 has been reserved by HBO for GBP.
“The choice of opponent is still being discussed,” said Schaefer.
