IT WILL be a “battle of styles. Mexican star Erik “El Terrible” Morales declared this yesterday even as he exuded confidence he has perfected a plan to beat Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao on March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I trust the power of my fists. Pacquiao is a boxer of great power, but I can also conquer him. I have delineated a fight plan and hope to obtain victory,” said Morales in an interview with Mexican boxing writer Ernesto Castellanos.
Morales, who is training at the high-altitude Otomi Mountains, added he has already studied fight tapes of Pacquiao and concedes that the Filipino fighter is a very dangerous opponent.
“I am going to look for opening to take advantage of his style. This is going to be a duel of his left hand against my right hand. I hope that it is my fist that prevails in the end,” Morales added.
Pacquiao is a southpaw while Morales is a right-hander. They will be fighting in the 130-lb junior lightweight category.
“The world knows about his tremendous victories by knockout but also I have observed that his defeats have been by knockout. Pacquiao is a boxer who fights to knock out or be knocked out. It is possible that he can be beaten, even by account of his stamina,” he said.
After taking care of Pacquiao, Morales said he would move up in weight and fight in the 135-lb (lightweight) category in the next two years or more.
Aside from his own career, Morales said he is busy and satisfied with the conditions of his contract with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
Morales is the promoter of such boxers as Jose Antonio Aguirre, Jorge “Travieso” Arce, “Barrio” Meza, Manuel Vargas, “Pelucho” Morales, Jackie Nava, and many more.
The Mexican star said he has just finished signing a contract with the North American television company Fox Sports, to make a monthly event that will be called “Aztec Soldiers.”
Also in Morales’ immediate plan is marriage to long-time girlfriend Andrea Mora.
