LOS ANGELES, CA— The gloves have raised controversy with Erik Morales? last two opponents but this time they agreed to wear distinct gloves into the ring.
Manny Pacquiao’s preferred Mexican-made Cleto Reyes gloves will be worn by the Filipino knockout king, while the pride of Tijuana Erik Morales is sticking with Winnings gloves–supposed to be better padded at the knuckle.
Pacquiao’s swollen hand after his bout with Marquez Copyright 15rounds.com Morales believes the added thickness will protect his overworked hands from sustaining any pain.
Pacquioa?s handlers figured the thicker pads would reduce the impact of Manny?s powered left hand.
Last November, Morales, who at the time was the current champion, decided that Winnings would be the choice of gloves against his life-long nemesis Marco Antonio Barrera.
“We would have had no choice but also put on Winnings, but Morales is not the champ here, he cannot dictate,” explained Roach.
Former super-featherweight champion Cornelius Boza-Edwards dropped by the Wild Card Gym on Friday to bare thoughts on Pacquiao?s upcoming bout.
“Manny Pacquiao?s speed and accuracy is phenomenal. He is quicker than Morales and I say Pacquiao is the favorite in this fight,” said Boza-Edwards, who was knocked out by Filipino southpaw Rolando Navarrete in August 1981 in Viareggio, Italy.
“I would tell Erik Morales to run instead of trade punches with Pacquiao. But the problem is Morales likes to get into a war.”
Freddie Roach insist that Manny?s right hand will be the determining factor in the fight, trademarking his new weapon ?Manila Ice.?
Sugar Ray Leonard stopped by the Wild Card Gym two weeks ago to see for himself. “I cannot confirm or deny I saw Manny test ‘Manila Ice.'” said an impressed Leonard following Pacquiao’s sparring session. “I promised the camp I would not disclose what I saw today, but I can see that trainer Freddie Roach has zeroed in on a major weakness of Morales. But if there was a new weapon in Manny’s arsenal called ‘Manila Ice’ on display today — it will stop him cold if it is on target.”
Tickets priced at $400, $300, $200, $125 and $75, not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Friday, Jan.14 at Noon at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office. Tickets also are sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Tower Records/WOW!, Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Robinsons-May stores and Ritmo Latino locations.)
To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702)-474-4000. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. For room packages, availability and event ticket information about MGM Grand, call (800)-929-1111 or (702)-891-7777 or log onto the World Wide Web at www.mgmgrand.com.
The Morales vs. Pacquiao pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9pm ET/6pm PT on March 19, has a suggested retail price of $44.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to over 50 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View
