When Manny Pacquiao faces Erik Morales on March 19, it will be his biggest bout not only in terms of stature and earnings, but also in size. The bout is contracted to take place at 130 lbs., a weight Pacquiao has never approached in the ring. Trainer Freddie Roach says Pacquiao currently weighs about 133 lbs., but doubts he?ll come into the ring anywhere near the limit. ?We’ll just see where we’ll end up, but I predict we?ll probably come in about 127 or so. The guy?s little bit bigger, but Manny’s the bigger puncher for sure.?
Roach is also not concerned with Morales? height. ?They just stood side by side. They?re the exact the same height. They say he?s 5’9 and if he?s 5’9 then I?m six feet?.he?s a half inch taller at most, so it’s not a problem.?
Pacquiao hit the gym to begin training for the fight on Monday. ?We worked three rounds with the mitts the first day and five rounds yesterday and we’re going to go train today,? said Roach. ?We have a lot of time. I’m going to slow him down a little bit and we ran around the hills in Griffith Park this morning, so his condition?s okay but we have a long way to go.?
?We’ll get Manny in the greatest shape we can and go from there. We’re going to have to fight a hard fight we’re going to have to fight a fast-paced fight because Morales likes to fight at a slow pace, so we’re not going to let that happen. We’re going to be in great shape like we were for the Barrera fight and the Marquez fight.”
