LOS ANGELES, California, United States of America — Manny Pacquiao returned here Saturday night stunned by thunderstorms and distressing winter chill but he woke up yesterday to a thrilling hot package of rewards after promoters decided to give him the legendary Erik Morales as new opponent.
If his original Feb. 26 fight had not been scrapped, the late-coming Pacquiao would’ve had to cram against the crafty, well-prepared Juan Manuel Marquez, holder of the World Boxing Association (WBA)/International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight crowns.
After promoters, led by HBO, had shoved off Marquez over purse problems, Pacquiao now has more than enough time to hit perfect form for his March 19 fight against Morales.
Of course, the greater bonanza could come in the form of enormous dollar earnings following the inevitable elevation of the Pacquiao-Morales macho match-up to pay-for-view status.
The cut from the pay-per-view appearance could rake in for Pacquiao a record percentage in dollar earnings that promises to be the biggest by any boxer from the Orient. But these sudden rewards were not the reason why Pacquiao has declared that his scheduled meeting with Morales would be a fulfillment of a dream.
“Iyan talaga ang pangarap ko, matapos ko talunin si (Marco Antonio) Barrera (I had dreamt of next fighting Morales after I beat Barrera),? Pacquiao, in thick jacket and wearing leather winter gloves, told the Inquirer outside his room at the Vagabond Inn in Hollywood.
The Ring Magazine featherweight boxing champ, stalled by booking problems in Manila, hit town Saturday raring to start a six-week rigid training for his fight against Marquez under Freddie Roach who had instructed him to come right after Christmas Day.
Arriving to his first winter in California, which has been reeling and shivering under the most extraordinary wet-and-cold conditions in nearly two decades, Pacquiao, 26, spent the whole day curled up in bed after hearing Mass on Sunday.
As he had vowed, he tried to start road training yesterday but had to instead ride the treadmill and do skipping rope exercises after being driven indoors by the sharp bite of morning winter rain.
He later had a happy reunion with Roach for the regular 1 p.m. regimen at the gym where he punched the mitts and worked with the speed ball.
“He was short of breath, but that was expected,” said Roach who added time was not on their side. “There was the usual rust, but he looked fine and ready for the hard grind.”
Roach said Morales coming up as new adversary was a welcome change.
“He’s beatable,” Roach said of Morales.
There was no word on whether or not Morales, who lost a close, controversial third fight against Barrera in November, has been in serious training before the new card, a sure hit with Hispanic communities here, was announced.
A press conference to formally announce the Pacquiao-Morales fight has been scheduled at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel here Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
Pacquiao, informed of the change in foes yesterday, said Morales does not promise to be an easier foe than Marquez.
But Pacquiao appeared both happy and convinced he could give the finest performance of his career in his dream bout against Morales, who could be more engaging but definitely not as crafty and complicated as Marquez.
