LOS ANGELES ? International promoter Murad Muhammad yesterday blasted those responsible for the story that he had ?sold out? on the issue of which gloves Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales will wear for their explosive showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on March 19.
Muhammad revealed that the Nevada State Athletic Commission will meet with both camps on Wednesday to take up the issue of what brand of gloves the fighters will wear, among other things.
At the same time, Muhammad claimed that writer Winchell Campos, who wrote the story, was ?someone who left his country and traded the Philippines for the US, left on a visa and didn?t return,? hinting that he may be living illegally in the United States.
?He (Campos) has no credibility and is now sowing dissension within the Pacquiao camp just days before the crucial, defining fight of Pacquiao?s career,? said Muhammad.
Muhammad told Manila Standard Today that Pacquiao?s new manager Shelly Finkel had informed him that the NSAC ?didn?t care what gloves the fighters use,? which is what trainer Freddie Roach had said earlier.
?Do you, for a moment think, that I would do this to Pacquiao, a fighter whom we have built to become the greatest little man, who ever came to the shores of North America. This is ludicrous! I would never allow my fighter to be disadvantaged,? said Muhammad.
However, he expressed confidence that Morales ?will never beat us no matter what gloves they wear because Manny is going to win that fight. I am not worried.?
?The gloves are incidental. My goal was to get Erik Morales and Manny will win whether he uses Everlast, Winning, Reyes or any other gloves. That?s all we should be concerned about,? said Muhammad.
Muhammad said that ??if Morales doesn?t punch as hard as Pacquiao and wears gloves that are heavily padded, then his punching power is reduced even further, so why should that be considered a disadvantage??
Morales, who has always used gloves that carry the brand name ?Winning? and are manufactured in Japan, made the choice while Pacquiao who said he was ?not bothered about which gloves I wear,? did indicate, however, that he was a little more comfortable with the Cleto Reyes gloves, which are made in Mexico and have a little less padding which is good for a puncher like him.
Roach indicated that Morales wanted ?Winning,? which has more padding since he suspects the former three-time world champion has brittle hands.
In an interview with Manila sportswriters, Roach said Morales was ?scared of Manny?s punching power. There?s no doubt about that? pointing out that the Reyes gloves are ?a puncher?s gloves and power registers? while the Winning gloves are ?softer,? leading him to suspect that Morales ?must have bad hands and wants more padding on the gloves.?
Roach, however, said he ?doesn?t want to make a big issue of it? despite the story which claimed he accused Muhammad of selling out on the gloves.
