Expectations will be sky high when Erik Morales faces Manny Pacquiao in the sort of fight hard-core fans have fantasized about.
Both rank among the top 10 fighters pound for pound, and neither knows how to take a backward step, the results of which were evident in 2004.
Morales was half of the fight of the year, losing a majority decision and the junior lightweight title to Marco Antonio Barrera in their rubber match. Pacquiao was half of the fight of the year runner-up when he settled for a draw in a scintillating match with featherweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao, a national hero in the Philippines, was headed to a February rematch with Marquez, but the deal fell apart after HBO’s offer of $1.5 million killed it.
With Morales (47-2, 31 KOs) looking for an opponent, the now-available Pacquiao (39-2-2, 30 KOs) was the obvious choice. They’ll meet March 19 (HBO PPV) in a 12-rounder aptly named “Bring It On” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
After losing to Barrera, “I didn’t want to take anyone easy coming back,” Morales said. “I know it’s going to be an explosive fight.”
Although he’s moving up to 130 pounds, Pacquiao opened as a 6-5 favorite in the MGM sports book, most likely because he owns a knockout win against Barrera. Trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao would be aggressive, just as he was with Barrera and Marquez.
“We blasted and took apart Barrera; we knocked down Marquez three times,” he said. “Hey, it’s going to be real simple telling Manny how to fight Morales. We’re going to go right at Morales.”
Hopkins-Eastman:
Undisputed middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins’ Feb. 19 (HBO) fight against British mandatory Howard Eastman (40-1, 34 KOs) will be announced today at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Hopkins (45-2-1, 32 KOs) will be going for his historic 20th defense.
It will be Hopkins’ first bout since knocking out Oscar De La Hoya in September and then joining him as a partner at De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
Jermain Taylor (22-0, 16 KOs), viewed by most as heir apparent to Hopkins as the next dominant middleweight, will be featured on the undercard against rugged Daniel Edouard (16-0-2, 9 KOs).
Vicente Escobedo, Team USA’s lightweight representative in the 2004 Olympics who recently signed with Golden Boy, will make his pro debut on the undercard.
