Erik ?El Terrible? Morales admitted he has to overcome Manny ?Pac Man? Pacquiao’s speed and power with sound fight management to emerge victorious in their Mar. 19 showdown in Las Vegas.
?I think his speed is probably the biggest asset he has against me, but (also) against everybody. I think speed is definitely something that he is going to be coming at, but like every fighter, he does have some weak points and we have to take advantage of those,? Morales said as quoted by Cory Rapacz of Web site boxingtalk.net.
The fighter from Tijuana, Mexico has never before fought a lefty with such power as the Filipino Ring Magazine featherweight champ, although he tackled southpaw Paulie Ayala in 2002, who was never a threat to knock him out.
Pacquiao is known for his powerful left, and is said to be raring to unleash a secret weapon dubbed ?Manila Ice? against the three-time world titleholder.
?We know he’s a strong fighter, but it’ s not important how you start the fight but how you end the fight. And I think that’s the key to the whole thing, who’ll be able to control the tempo,? Morales said.
Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach said their gameplan is to be aggressive but methodical against the Mexican.
?My style is going to be a fighter, like a fighter. Punch, always punch,? said the 2004 Philippine Sportswriters’ Association’s Sports Man of the Year.
?We’re gonna fight an aggressive fight. Morales is a very smart fighter. A very good fighter, he’s seen everything. We’re not just going to walk in and just trade (punches) with him, we got a little technique behind that attack,? Roach said.
This will be the first time Pacquiao, a former 122-lb and 126-lb champion, will fight in the 130-lb division. But he claimed he will be comfortable fighting the regular 130-lb division campaigner.
?140 pounds is my regular weight. When I wasn’t in training I weight 135 pounds. 130 pounds is my regular weight, I am very comfortable at that weight. I think that at 130 I have more power than at 126,? the Filipino ace said.
