BEVERLY HILLS, California ? On March 19th 2005, there?s going to be a war ? Philippines against Mexico.
This was announced by the Mexican adviser of Erik “El Terrible” Morales during the press conference two weeks ago, announcing the 12-round World Super Featherweight Championship between the most popular Mexican boxer and the most popular Philippine slugger, Manny Pacquiao. The same press conference was held in Mexico City last week.
It could be a war likened to the conflict that resulted from the Saddam-has-weapons-of-mass-destruction obsession; for it can and will shatter hopes, the Filipinos? or the Latinos?. And when hope disintegrates, life ceases to exist. It will only be bloody for the two boxing idols, well-loved in their respective countries, settling the score in the ring. But it could lead to the death of an icon, of the diminishing of one star?s light.
Morales adviser Fernando Beltran went on to say in front of a predominantly Mexican crowd (journalists, photographers, videographers) that the audience at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada won?t be divided 50-50. At the least, he said emphasizing the least, it will be 80-20, Mexicans-Filipinos. Just how popular is Morales among the Latinos?
“Morales is huge. We just did an event where he got more than 325,000 buys and it translates to $17 million of television revenue,” said Bob Arum, Morales? promoter who added that for Pacquiao to be involved in a pay-per-view promotion involving Morales is a big thing. All materials will include Pacquiao?s name and face opposite Morales? and through this, the whole world will come to know the Philippine pride.
“What this fight would do is send a message around the world, ?Come to the Philippines.? Come to meet not only great athletes, but come to meet great people,” said Murad Muhammad, Pacquiao?s American promoter. He explained that a country as beautiful as the Philippines with people as hospitable as the Filipinos needs only a spotlight to invite foreigners to visit. And that spotlight may come in the form of a boxing idol who will call attention to himself and his country.
Everyone in Pacquiao?s camp agrees that by fighting Morales, Pacquiao will boost his popularity among the Latinos and even the Anglos. But we?re all hoping more Filipinos would show up at the actual fight. Ticket prices are $400, $300, $200, $125 and $75. Some people even pay as high as $600 for a binocular seat for big sporting events such as the Super Bowl. This boxing match is cheap, compared to the bigger sporting events but boxing experts guarantee that it will be worth every penny.
“I think these two fighters always come out to fight. They always give great shows. And the only winner is going to be the audience, the public because it?s going to be a spectacular fight, spectacular night,” Beltran said.
“This fight will bring tribute to the sport of boxing,” said Arum of “Cantodo.” the Spanish name for the match which translates to “with everything” in English. During the press conference, Arum and some HBO executives also announced that “Cantodo” will be distributed on pay-per-view by HBO.
“Right now we?re very excited about the fight. It?s the fight that I wanted and it?s the fight that I would pay to see,” said Paqcuiao?s American trainer, Freddie Roach who added that the March 19 slugfest is more than just a popularity-boost for his ward.
“Well it puts him (Pacquiao) right on top of the featherweight division again; even though they?re fighting 130. But the winner of this fight will come out the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today,” Roach explained. “It?s a huge fight for Manny. And the thing is after this fight, we can get the rematch with Barrera and Marquez. So we still have two good fights out there and something else to look forward to.”
“Basically, whoever Manny fights, as a fan, we?re all happy and proud,” said Raul Tecson, a US-based fan of PacMan.
Style-wise, Pacquiao and Morales complement each other very well because both guys like to fight. But thing is, added Roach, “people that Manny can hit, I usually don?t worry about because Manny?s a devastating puncher and when he hits people, they feel it.” According to Roach, though this is going to be a difficult match for Pacquiao, it won?t be a problem because they have nine weeks to prepare.
As part of the preparations, they?ve already gotten some sparring partners that are a little bit bigger and taller to get Pacquiao used to a bigger opponent. Roach vowed to leave no stone unturned. He said they?ll pick out some more weaknesses and improve on those. “We?ll study him a little bit deeper than we have so far,” he said. “We?re working on his right hand like we were in the Philippines. He showed some improvement during the last fight and it will be better by the time we get to Morales, I?m sure,” he added.
Roach is confident that “Manny will rise to the occasion and we?re going to knock this guy out.” He adds, however, that it will be late. “We?re going to wear him down, fight him hard. It will be like the Barrera fight, I believe.”
Murad agrees, “This guy is tough. It may take us 12 rounds and God-willing we could knock him out early. We don?t go in the ring to knock anyone out. We go in the ring to win. We go in the ring to prove we?re the best. It just so happens they get caught with our left. Or they get caught with our right and we knock ?em out.”
As Pacquiao?s camp remains optimistic, Latinos are preparing to bet all their money on the three-time World Champion from Tijuan, Mexico.
“Erik Morales showed up in the ring in 1995 for us after we signed him, and he starts electrifying everyone. It didn?t matter what fight we put him in, it was a great war,” said Todd Duboef of Top Rank who also narrated this story to the press:
“In November 27th, he (Morales) fights his arch nemesis, his big rival, Marco Antonio Barrera – unbelievable fight. It was electric. And as disappointed as he was with the result, as he we went to the locker room, his head was down, he looks at me and he goes, ?When am I going next?? – – – That?s not normal. That?s not normal in today?s day. Most of it is, when am I going next for a huge amount of money against a nobody opponent?”
DuBoef described Morales as a “warrior,” adding that “this is what makes the sport of boxing a great sport. And he made November 27th a magical night and you?re going to see it again on March 19th.”
I would like to say that this March 19th, I have another opportunity to show the world that in boxing you need to be explosive,” said the Mexican boxer with looks that could pass for a movie star. Who knows how that chiseled face might look after it receives punches from PacMan?
Morales assured everyone that he comes prepared to give the audience what they deserve; prepared to get the best fights out there. “And don?t be surprised if this is one of my best fights.”
In Mexican he said that he?s happy to be starting the year with a “fighter of the quality of Manny Pacquiao who?s a great, great warrior. I?m, very happy about it and there?s nothing to do only to train, train very hard. Show myself on the 19th and show who I really am.”
When asked about 26-year-old Pacquiao?s youth, fast hands and deadly blows, the 28-year old boxer replied, “The only difference is going to be the determination. I think I have the biggest heart. We?re going to prove it up in the ring. I think I have more experience than he does and I think I?ll be able to work on that.”
From this fight, the accomplished Mexican boxer said he hopes to get “Mucho respeto. When people see I?m willing to take this guy with fights, I think it shows what kind of a fighter I am and I think that brings me a lot of respect among the boxing community.”
