How about switching from ?El Dinamita? to ?El Terible??
If Juan Manuel Marquez continues to bog down negotiations in his rematch with Manny Pacquiao, Erik Morales, Marquez?s countryman, is a possible replacement.
Murad Muhammad, Pacquiao?s US-based promoter, confirmed that a July showdown with Morales is in the works.
Although he said a switch in opponents from Marquez to Morales was not discussed at his meetingThursday with Top Rank top brass Bob Arum, Muhammad told www.fightnews.com that, ?if there is a fight with Erik Morales that is offered to me, Pacquiao and I would be happy to take it.?
Less than seven weeks away from the fight date and nothing is still final in the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch on February 26.
Muhammad was in Las Vegas last Wednesday, meeting with Arum to iron kinks in the blockbuster sequel to their May 2004 showdown.
?It?s not yet final,? Muhammad said. ?But I believe it?s done. It looks like the 26th is going to go on.?
According to the same website, Muhammad is still set to meet with Arum today in the world?s gambling capital and will continue to stay in the Nevada city, ?until this [deal] is done.?
Holding negotiations to a standstill is Marquez?s asking price of $1.5 million, which is double the amount originally offered to the Mexican for the rematch. Pacquiao is set to receive $900,000.
?I believe Marquez is a victim of how I treat my athletes. I give my athletes bonuses. I pay them more than what they are entitled to, to give them incentives,? Muhammad said.
?So he expects that Bob Arum was supposed to do the same thing. Bob Arum was trying to explain to him that what you hear and what you read, you don?t know what it entails … you can?t count the next man?s money.?
?Palagay ko, sasang-ayon din si Marquez du?n sa una na?ng napag-usapan,? said boxing analyst Moy Lainez. ?Ganu?n din ang nangyari nu?ng una. Nagpapataas lang naman ng presyo ?yan, nagbabakasakali pero o-oo din ?yan.?
Asked about the probability of the fight pushing through despite a stalemate in talks threatening it, Lainez figured: ?Eighty percent, matutuloy ?yan.?
While the prize-money issue is hounding Marquez, Pacquiao?s prefight conditions, on the other hand, continue to be a concern.
And Pacquiao?s supposed flight last night that was rescheduled for tomorrow will add to the unease of his countrymen.
?Hindi kami makakuha ng ticket kaya hindi rin sila natuloy,? Lainez said.
Muhammad expects Pacquiao to begin training formally on Monday. Marquez, the featherweight champion of the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association, has been training reportedly since late November.
?Well, ang difference siguro nu?ng unang laban nila ni Manny ay mas-ensayado si Marquez ngayon.?
