?My power comes from God,? this was the claim of Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao during a whirlwind trip to Mexico City to promote his March 19 showdown with Erik ?El Terrible? Morales.
?He gave this (power) to me, so I?m taking care of it,? wrote boxing writer James Blears, quoting Pacquiao, in the widely read Web site Boxing Scene.
Blears noted that ?amazingly and disappointingly,? Pacquiao was not invited to speak at the press conference although Morales ?gave a little speech.?
The event was held at the Salon Bugambilias of the Maria Isabel Sheraton Hotel, which is located in front of the huge Angel of Independence monument.
Blears said Pacquiao showed ?as much class outside the ring as in it? during the visit in which he sent Morales a message: ?Good luck, Erik. See you on March 19.?
Blears said Pacquiao believes the fight against Morales is a defining fight in his career, emphasizing that: ?This is so very important for me because it?s for the honor of my country, my family, and I know Erik Morales is a very good boxer.?
Blears said Pacquiao ?added dignity to class? when he deliberately avoided hype, saying, ?I?m not going to say I?m going to knock Erik out. But I?m going to try my very best, show the benefits of my homework and good skills up in the ring. I want everybody to love this fight.?
Analyzing Morales, Pacquiao said ?he?s a good boxer but not like before. He?s a little bit slower, but he?s got power, too. I?ve studied his style and I know what I?m going to do.?
To the flamboyant Filipino southpaw ?winning this fight is my way to be known as a great warrior throughout the world, especially with the Mexican people and the people in the United States.? Morales, for his part, praised Pacquiao as a great fighter, but added, ?I know who I am and what I can do in the ring and I am going to prepare well for a truly great fight. I?m not scared. I?m going to be ready and I?m going to win.?
Also present was World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman who reportedly ?saw red? initially when Morales suggested that he was considering fighting for titles other than the WBC.
