Erik Morales w pts 12 Manny Pacquiao, March 19, 2005, Las Vegas, Nevada, was so thrilling a boxing match that ringsiders at the MGM Grand were talking excitedly about a rematch even before the scorecards had been read out to award Morales his close but deserved victory. Talks between the two camps began almost immediately but the road to the rematch is a little longer than some expected.
It is almost a lock that Morales will attempt to become a four-division title-holder by challenging Leavander Johnson for the IBF lightweight in October, while on the same card Philippine power-puncher Pacquiao may well take on former 38-year-old veteran and one-time WBC featherweight champion Kevin Kelley in what could be considered ‘tune-up’ bouts.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach told SecondsOut: “Manny and Morales will be on the same card in September or October and then the rematch could happen December 10. Or, possibly, because December isn’t a great pay-per-view month (in terms of buy-rates), they may push that pay-per-view back to March 2006. Both Manny and Morales may fight twice each before they fight each other again and that’s great with us, we have no problem with that as long as the fight happens by March.”
The LA Wildcard gym master went on to explain that Pac-Man, now free of promoter Murad Muhammad, would not follow Morales to lightweight, though.
Roach said: “No, we won’t fight Morales at 135lbs, only at 130lbs. Manny’s best fighting weight is at 126lbs but we wanted Morales (in the first fight) and we want him again for the rematch. We are willing to stay at 130lbs. But we will not go to 135lbs and we’re clear on that. Morales, we understand, will go to lightweight for one fight for the IBF title but the rematch between Morales and Manny is so big that Erik will come back down. Manny and Morales, this rematch is bigger than titles.
“We’re looking at facing maybe Kevin Kelley first. Kevin beat Jose Reyes who was 17-1 in his last fight, which was a good win, and we don’t want Manny to fight a killer every time out. And if there is a second fight (before the Morales return) we’re looking at Carlos Hernendez, someone of that calibre, he fought Jesus Chavez in a very good fight and is a little bit dangerous. He’s the type of opponent we’d like for December.”
Hilariously, Roach said Marco Antonio Barrera’s name was on the list of ‘warm-up’ opponents Pacquiao would prefer to face in the event of a December fight not involving Morales, rather mischievously adding: “If Barrera wants to come to the table for December you’d love to fight him again but he doesn’t want to talk to us right now. We’ve reached out to make that fight but they’ve (Barrera and promoters Golden Boy) not interested in that fight at all.
“Manny knocked Barrera out (w rsf 11, November 2003) but Barrera doesn’t seem interested in (avenging) that defeat. Manny lost to Morales and we immediately wanted to get the win back.”
While both Morales and Pacquiao both richly deserve a breather (no disrespect to either Johnson or Kelley intended) I’ve never been a fan of these types of double headers. If a great fight is there to be made – make it – I’ve always believed. Morales v Pacquiao II doesn’t need any addition hype, the first fight is all the advertisement any rematch would ever need. It is always dangerous to look beyond your next opponent and, despite Roach’s renowned professionalism, that is essentially what Team Pac-Man will be doing here.
Roach said: “I think it is a fight that has to happen. The fans want it, Morales wants it and especially Manny and we want it. It will be a different fight, the rematch, believe me. Manny fought a great first round but then kinda got away from the gameplan and fought a very medicate performance, I feel, to the one he should have given that fight. He’ll fight a much, much better fight now all the bullshit with Murad Muhammad is behind us.”
The reader will be aware that Pacquiao successfully sued to be rid of promoter Muhammad after a catalogue of unprofessional conduct was brought to light. Beyond Muhammad mishandling the fighter’s purses, Roach was most upset that the promoter signed away Pac-Man’s right to wear Reyes, the punchers’ glove, against Morales, who prefers the more padded Winning brand.
Roach said: “The thing is we will wear Reyes in the rematch and that will have an affect on the fight. And when we wear Reyes I doubt Morales will wear Winnings. He won’t want to have Manny (have an advantage) like that. I feel he’ll wear Reyes when he knows that’s what Manny will wear.
“But it won’t just be the gloves that will be different this time. The important thing is that we’ll have someone who cares about Manny watching out for us. Murad Muhammad didn’t care who the judges were, who the referee was, what gloves we had to wear. He didn’t care about any of that. Shelly Finkle (now Pac-Man’s advisor) will take care of all that and make sure Morales’s people aren’t calling all the shots. Murad never looked out for Manny; he only cared about the money he was getting. He took Manny’s own tickets for Manny’s wife and charged for that, Murad even took the suite that was reserved for Manny had Manny share a room on before the Morales fight!
“Murad Muhammad is the worst guy in the world.”
