After what can be considered a fight of the year candidate, Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao spoke to the press.
First to speak was promoter Bob Arum. “This is what boxing needs,” Arum said. “Both of these fighters gave an entertaining twelve rounds that was full of action.” He also stated, “When putting on fights of this magnitude, we try to deliver a great undercard for a night of great action.” The attendance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was 14,326, a sold out crowd. When asked about the total number of pay-per-view purchases, Arum said that he believes that the buys have surpassed last year’s Morales-Barrera III.
The first fighter to speak was Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. “I am very happy tonight because I won this bout and I?m very happy because I know that I came in in good condition,” said the son of the Mexican ring legend. “I am especially happy because I didn?t expect the support that I received from the fans tonight. I will continue to train hard because I plan to be the world champion one day. I hope you enjoyed the show.”
Next up was a battered, but victorious Jorge “Travleso” Arce. “I?m ready to fight again,” he joked. “Like always, the Mexicans fight hard and we never give up. I am also happy to be fighting on the same card of up-coming prospect and most popular Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and also one of Mexico?s greatest fighters Erik Morales. When I was in the fight, the doctor came over and took a look at my cut but I keep saying to the doctor, ‘please don?t stop the fight, just one more round and I know that I will knock this guy out’ and that is what I did. I knocked him out.”
After Arce spoke, promoter Bob Arum confirmed the story Fightnews.com reported earlier in the day about the up and coming bout between Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker. The event, called “Million Dollar Lady,” will be the first time in history that a female bopxing match will have a million-dollar purse. This event will be held July 9th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
After this announcement, Erik Morales enter the room and went straight to the microphone.
“It was a pleasure to fight the way that I fought tonight,” said the three-division world champion. “I believe that I was controlling the fight from beginning to end. Sometimes I think that I need to add a little flavor to the fights so I exchanged blows with him in the middle of the ring. My main goal was to make the fight difficult for him. Manny was very tough, very strong and very fast and I am very greatful that I won the fight tonight.
When was asked about the punching power of Pacquiao, Morales responded, “I wasn?t bothered by his punching power, I was able to exchange punches with him.”
Erik was in the middle of answering another question when Arum interrupted him to give Pacquiao a chance to speak before going to the hospital.
“I hope that everyone was happy with the fight,” said the Pacman. “I did my best. I don?t think that Erik was too big for me tonight. I felt that we were the same size. Early in the fight I was head-butted and I couldn?t see out of my right eye so I fought most of the fight with my left eye only.”
When asked about what would have happened if he had been allowed to wear his usual Reyes gloves, Pacquiao said, “I think I would have ended the fight.”
He added, “I like this weight and I?m going to stay at this weight.”
A member of the Pacquiao camp added that Manny would love to have a rematch. Pacquiao then thanked the Morales team and exited the conference to go to the hospital to have the cut about his right eye stitched up.
Morales came back to the microphone and answered a few more questions, ending with “He?s a great a fighter, he?s a very great fighter but honestly I wasn?t hurt by his punches.”
