GIVEN ENOUGH rest and right training, Erik Morales will redeem himself from a devastating loss to Manny Pacquiao when they collide for the third time on Sept. 16 at the Sam Boyd (Football) Stadium in Las Vegas.
This was the belief of the Mexican fighter’s father and long-time trainer Jose “Olivaritos” Morales, who told the Mexican media outfit box-latino that fatigue caught up with his son on the night the Filipino scored a thrilling 10th round knockout over three weeks ago.
“(Morales) should take some months to rest to decontaminate and return to the gymnasium with great force and to win that third duel,” said the elder Morales, who was notably absent during the rematch that saw Jose Luis Lopez Sr. taking his place in the corner.
Lopez was hired after the fighter reasoned out that his father could no longer cope with the stress of everyday training, being a diabetic.
“I am definitely sure (that Morales will win the third fight),” added Morales, who was present in the first bout held in March last year at the MGM Grand where the Mexican fashioned out a hard-earned 12-round unanimous decision.
Since the fight will take place between the superfeatherweight and lightweight divisions, the senior Morales sounded confident that a victory over the Filipino southpaw will line his son up for a crack at a fourth world title.
There have been talks revolving that Pacquiao’s handlers have agreed to a meeting at 132 lbs although the boxer himself has made it clear that for a third fight to happen, Morales would have to agree to a limit of 130 lbs.
Morales has been boxing since age five and even before he crossed paths with Pacquiao, has been regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest, having world titles in the superbantam, feather and super-feather crowns.
In the event of a victory over Pacquiao in September, Morales will be lined up to challenge for the lightweight title late this year or early-2007 and probably hang up his gloves should he emerge victorious.
To prepare for the third fight, Pacquiao is planning to take on ex-world champion Oscar Larios of Mexico in a 10-rounder in Manila sometime in May.
