LAS VEGAS, Nevada, United States of America — Erik Morales will not back down because Mexicans don’t step back during a fight.
“Nunca (never),” Morales swore during the fight press conference where he also praised Manny Pacquiao as a good, strong fighter.
The two great gladiators meet in a 12-round super featherweight bout on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
OK, no retreat, no turning back.
It could not, however, be determined if Morales, a fabled Aztec warrior, would reconsider after hearing these winning tips.
There’s only one way Morales can survive Pacquiao.
He should avoid the GenSan gunship.
How to do that?
Morales must not allow himself to be locked in a slugout.
This is no quack pointer prescribed by a medicine man.
This comes from Juan Manuel Marquez, he with the doctorate in counter-punching.
Marquez definitely knows whereof he speaks.
Not KO victim
Marquez is not among Pacquiao’s 37 knockout victims.
He’s one of the few who have survived Pacquiao’s feared brick-hard left.
Marquez is fully informed of the exact tonnage behind those punches.
He had to get up three times last May to squeeze through via a controversial draw.
Marquez got hit three times, fell three times in just the first round.
He knows and he’s now telling Morales never to underestimate Pacquiao’s punching power.
He (Pacquiao) can punch, Marquez attested.
Doubly dangerous
“To be honest, I think he’ll even be stronger at 130 than he was at 126,” said Marquez.
That should make Pacquiao doubly dangerous.
Marquez warned that Morales can’t let Pacquiao get him out of his rhythm.
“Be prepared to keep him head-on and keep him off you,” stressed Marquez, the IBF and WBA featherweight champion.
OK, Morales is a notorious slow starter.
So Marquez asked him to “better come out of the locker room warmed up and ready to fight.”
Marquez admitted he made stupid mistakes against Pacquiao?and paid for it.
“I think he will come at Erik the same way he came at me.”
Anyway, Marquez will not be around here on Saturday.
He will be home in Mexico City where he’s currently training for his May 7 fight probably against Victor Puno.
Morales (47-2) has never been knocked out.
He has never been in serious trouble inside the ring.
But Marquez warned a knockout could happen.
That’s if Morales assumes he can physically overwhelm Pacquiao (39-2-2).
Great tips to Morales from a great fighting brother.
But hold it.
Final advice
This final advice, Morales may have to seriously evaluate:
“All Pacquiao has is a left hand. If Erik can figure that out, he should be OK.”
That’s a dangerous proposition.
Reason: Pacquiao has trained long and hard to develop a right punch.
In fact, his trainer, Freddie Roach, bared that their secret weapon could be packed in the right hand.
Asked about the well-hyped Manila Ice, Roach replied:
“It’s a right hook, Manila Ice is a right hook, we will knock Morales with it.”
Will Erik end up buying a losing tip?
