With less than three weeks from the first mega fight of the year, Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao met the media ? via teleconference ? to discuss this much anticipated 130 pound bout.
On March 19, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Morales is jumping right back into the fire, after his emotional loss to hated rival, Marco Antonio Barrera, last November. The animosity between the two Mexican warriors still irks Morales as when he was told about Barrera rooting for his three time adversary, ?I could care less about what Barrera thinks.? exclaimed the Tijuana native.
Even though the fans have thoroughly enjoyed the trilogy with Barrera, Pacquiao is clearly on Morales mind. ?Pacquiao is a great warrior and he comes to fight.? Even though Morales has been a world champion for the better part of a decade, he understands that the fighters make the belts. ?This fight doesn?t need titles.? he said.
Morales acknowledged the abilities of Pacquiao saying ?speed is his biggest asset, and I?m going to be a lot faster ? I have to fight speed with speed.? Morales was well aware of the importance of not letting down his many fans, telling them, ?This fight will be just as enjoyable as any fight you are going to see.? Morales kept on the theme that this will be an outstanding fight, reiterating that ?I want to give the people a real good fight, something they can remember us by.?
Promoter Bob Arum, boldly predicted that ?We are going to far exceed the Pay-Per-View results from November.? That was in reference to the November 27, 2004 classic third fight with Morales and Barrera. ?The public perceives Erik and many as real warriors?, Claimed the long time promoter. When asked about Morales desire for this fight, rather then a fourth Barrera fight, Arum proclaimed ?Erik wanted this fight, he has wanted to fight Pacquiao for a long time.?
Pacquiao, who was taking a short break in between training sessions at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, when he joined the call, was not too audible with all the activity in the gym. The soft spoken superstar from the Philippines, played his cards close to the vest, saying, ?We have a lot of plans for the fight.? but choosing not to disclose those plans. One thing that Pacquiao did reveal is that he wants a rematch with the man he soundly defeated a year and a half ago, ?I will do this fight to fight Barrera.?
Arum formally announced the televised under card: Jorge Arce will face Hussein Hussein in a WBC Flyweight eliminator, Martin Castillo will defend the WBA Super flyweight title against former WBA Flyweight champ Eric Morel, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will also be on the televised portion of the show against an opponent to be announced.
