SHORTLY upon arriving in the dazzling city of Las Vegas for his return bout with Manny Pacquiao over the weekend, Erik Morales readily talked about leaving the gambling capital of the world with his pride and credibility intact.
It’s actually the Mexican’s way of saying he’s going to win again over the game Filipino fighter.
“I have to get some credibility back in my career,” admitted Morales, well aware that his loss to Zahir Raheem in his last fight four months ago put a lot of doubts on whether the former three-time world champion is now on the downside of a great boxing career.
Now 29, the native of Tijuana, Mexico beat Pacquiao in a closely-fought bout also in Las Vegas last year.
While he did respect the power punching of the Filipino pride from General Santos City, Morales is convinced the result would still be the same once he climbs the ring again on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time) to face Pacquiao at the Thomas & Mack Center.
“I’m in very good condition. “I feel very strong,” said Morales through his manager Fernando Beltran. “We’re prepared for anything in the ring. We did a great work in training.”
But the Pacquiao camp is ready as well, declaring it will turn the tide against Morales this time.
“Manny is in the best shape I’ve ever seen him. Revenge will be sweet,” declared Freddie Roach, the fame American trainer of Pacquiao. “It will be a war out there”.
The Filipino two-time world champion is also raring to get back at the man responsible for dealing him the only loss in his last 17 fights.
“I can’t wait to do the fight. Some people say the fight will start in the 12th round. I’m ready. I will do my best,” Pacquiao told foreign media before proceeding to his scheduled two-hour workout with Roach.
For the first time, too, Pacquiao’s corner admitted that the Filipino wasn’t exactly prepared for Morales the first time they met.
“We fought a very poor fight the last time,” said Roach. “And at the end of the fight, I really didn’t feel that we won.”
“He was just the better fighter that time. So we’ll try to turn that around on Saturday. Again, we’re ready to go 12 rounds. A knockout (by Pacquiao) will only come as a bonus,” he added.
Morales, sporting a 48-3 record including 34 by knockout, flew in Tuesday night from Mexico through a private jet and arrived at the fabulous Wynn Resort and Casino hotel on board a dark-colored Mercedes Benz.
The Mexican warrior, wearing dark pants, leather shoes and winter jacket, was met by a throng of mediamen who waited for his arrival for about an hour.
Pacquiao came a day earlier from Los Angeles, California.
Top Rank under promoter Bob Arum has scheduled the final press conference today for the mega-buck rematch dubbed ‘The Battle,’ while the official weigh-in will be held on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
