Buoyed by the overwhelming success of the formal press conference announcing the blockbuster showdown between Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao and former World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Erik ?El Terrible? Morales at the Beverly Hills Hotel last Wednesday, international promoter Murad Muhammad and Bob Arum of Top Rank have decided to fan the Philippine-Mexican rivalry by flying the Filipino gladiator to the heart of Morales? hometown for another media event next Tuesday.
Muhammad continues to add fuel to the Mexicans? fire by pointing out that Pacquiao annihilated the legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, decked World Boxing Association/International Boxing Federation champion Juan Manuel Marquez three times in the first round and should logically get the better of Morales who was beaten by Barrera.
Providing Morales the spark to ignite the rivalry, Muhammad said Morales is going to prove to Barrera ?I don?t need you because I am going to get the man who whipped you?re a__.?
Muhammad told Viva Sports/Manila Standard in an overseas telephone conversation that Pacquiao ?doesn?t care who he fights and doesn?t care who gets in front of him because he has no fear. It?s the same way with Morales. Now that the fight is done, they are both ecstatic.?
American trainer Freddie Roach has vowed to get Pacquiao ?in the greatest shape we can? for the March 19 battle at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Providing an insight into his fight-plan, Roach said he would tell Pacquiao who has ?absolutely no fear to attack, attack and attack again? in the opening round just like he did against Marquez last May.
Roach noted Pacquiao ?blasted and took apart Barrera, we knocked down Marquez three times and it?s going to be real simple telling Manny how to fight Morales.?
Morales responded, saying: ?I know it?s going to be an explosive fight. But let?s see who is stronger in those first few exchanges.?
