Los Angeles — Cutman Lenny De Jesus, one of the best in the business who will work the corner of Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao in his March 19 showdown with Erik ?El Terrible? Morales yesterday rated the chances of a Pacquiao victory at 50-50.
De Jesus told Manila Standard Today that while Pacquiao is ?in the best condition of his life for this fight? Morales is going to be ?a tough cookie to beat in his home turf? considering he has fought often in Las Vegas and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who handles Morales is known to be influential with the Nevada State Athletic Commission which gives Morales an edge especially if the fight is close and goes the distance. De Jesus noted that Morales is ?a solid 29 year old in his prime and enjoys the home turf advantage.?
However, the astute boxing man with years of championship experience who was picked by Pacquiao to work his corner along with trainer Freddie Roach and Filipino trainer Restituto ?Buboy? Fernandez said Pacquiao was ?a young, hungry lion? whom he calls ?The little Tyson? because he is ?fast, very quick and throws punches in bunches and that will help him.? De Jesus predicted that Pacquiao will be quicker because Morales will enter the ring at around 140 pounds (he was 143 for the fight against Marco Antonio Barrera which he lost) and that is to our (Manny?s) advantage. Pacquiao will be faster and the punches will come out quicker.?
De Jesus said it will come down to ?a little Pacman against a very intelligent Morales and I think the fight will go eight or nine rounds, depending on who would want it the most. Manny will intimidate this guy and from then on its ours? even as he cautioned Pacquiao against over-confidence because ?that?s where you tend to make a mistake and if you make a mistake you pay for it.? De Jesus said that ?at one time I thought everything was on shaky grounds but we squared off, ironed out our differences and I?m proud to be a part of the original Team Pacquiao? which includes business manager Rod Nazario, Moy Lainez, Lito Mondejar and Gerry Garcia. There was a moment last week when the new management team wanted to bring in a cutman from Golden Boy Promotions of Oscar De La Hoya but Pacquiao proved he was calling the shots by scuttling the move and asking D e Jesus to fly to Los Angeles for his workouts at the Wild Card Gym.
De Jesus indicated it will have to be a team effort to beat Morales stating ?we are going to have to do our part to try to stop Morales. The hunger that Pacquiao has and the public support behind him will help him. Also a good motivating corner that will stick together and do our work will help pull it off.?
