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Pacquiao, Morales and WBC By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Sun, 08 Jan 2006 BARRERA AT RINGSIDE Expect world super-featherweight king Marco Antonio Barrera to be at ringside as an interested party when leathers start flying between our very own Manny Pacquiao and Mexican super-fighter Erik Morales two Sundays from now. Or at the very least, expect him to watch the fight on pay-per-view. If he doesn't show up at the fight, it's very understable. There is no love lost between Barrera's promoter Oscar Dela Hoya and "The Battle" promoter Bob Arum. Barrera, being the champion that he is, should be very interested to risk his WBC and IBF titles to whoever comes out smoking the victory cigar. Remember, the WBC had earlier installed the winner as the mandatory challenger to Barrera. The Mexico-based sanctioning body is doing a big favor to the winner by virtually taking Barrera aside for a rumble with the victor. Hence, if our very own Manny Pacquiao comes out winning the rematch, the most honorable thing for him to do is show some respect to the WBC and fight Barrera under the sanctioning body's terms. The shrewd handler might say forget the WBC, or forget the sanctioning bodies altogether. This means not paying the sanctioning fees required by the organizations. Pacquiao versus Barrera is a sure pay-per-view attraction anyway, and should be a hit at the gates. Pacquiao, if he was to set an example, can show the way that boxing still has its honorable inhabitants. By fighting for the WBC title, and hopefully after winning it, he becomes a people's champ twice over. But then, that's really looking at things a bit too far. There's still a major hump ahead, with a sign that says, ERIK MORALES! PACMAN GETS REYES, MORALES N'YET While Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao is already set on using Cleto Reyes gloves, former three-division world champion Erik "El Terrible" Morales has revealed that he has yet to choose what type of gloves to use when he cross paths once again with the southpaw fireball on January 21 (22 in RP) at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. Morales, answering queries from mediamen yesterday at his own teleconference from his base in the Queretaro, suggested that he is not expecting much changes from Pacquiao's fighting style in their rematch, although he expects some adjustments from the GenSan fighter. "I understand that they are talking about using speed and boxing in the second fight. But we all have plans for the fight, but the question is, Can he execute? They think that they will handle me easily this time, but that is something that will not be easy against me," said Morales. As to the issue on what gloves to use, Morales expects Pacquiao to wear whatever gloves he wants, although he himself has yet to choose his own brand of gloves. "It's not the gloves that matter, but the punches you load up on them," said Morales, who is ironically considered the lighter puncher between the two. Morales will choose among three brands--Winning, Kings or Boxing--but indicated he will choose "whatever suits me best." Morales will train at the Queretaro until January 17th, when he flies on a private jet owned by promoter Bob Arum to Las Vegas. Pacquiao and his team motor from LA to Las Vegas on January 16. A press conference will be held on January 18 at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel's Mouton Ballroom starting at 11AM, while the weigh-in, which will be open to the public, is set at 3PM on January 20 at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel's Margaux Ballroom. ENDQUOTE: Last time I leaned towards Pacquiao and I will stick to my guns on this, not because of Morales?s form against Raheem, which I think was so misleading it can be thrown out of the window, but because I think the Filipino can improve on the performance of the first fight just enough to turn the tables. Tremendous fighter that Morales is, I nevertheless get the feeling that this time Pacquiao can be a little steadier, a little smarter, than in the first fight, perhaps showing a bit more variety, punching more with both hands, to pull out a very close, perhaps split, decision after another memorable 12 rounds.--GRAHAM HOUSTON, writing for Boxing Monthly. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.  |
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