Erik ?El Terrible? Morales, 47-2, (34) and Manny Pacquiao, 39-2-2, (30) held their final press conference today at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, promoting their highly anticipated mega-showdown scheduled for this Saturday March 19th.
Before either fighter took the stand to speak about their upcoming face-off, each boxer?s respective promoter took a few minutes to speak about what many experts predict could become a fight of the year candidate.
Morales? promoter Bob Arum was first to speak to the media in attendance about his feelings on Saturday nights Pay Per View attraction, Morales vs. Pacquiao.
?Sometimes when you stand up to promote a fight you just have a feeling that what we are going to see is going to be historic. Something that people will remember and talk about for many, many years to come.?
Arum compared his feelings about the Morales/Pacquiao bout to the infamous Hagler/Hearns fight.
?I felt that way when Marvin Hagler fought Tommy Hearns and nobody, nobody will ever forget that fight. Even the people, who are not born today, when they see it years from now on television, will hold their breath; it was such a sensational match. This one, I really predict, I feel, will be the same.?
With such high expectations from fight fans and the media alike, for Morales and Pacquiao to produce thunder inside the squared circle, one would assume that the Pay Per View numbers for the bout would be significant, but Arum insists as of now it is too early to tell.
?Many people in the media ask me how this fight is going to do on Pay Per View; obviously it?s too early to tell. If the gate is any indication and the closed circuit booking locations, then this fight will far exceed the Morales vs. Barrera fight of last November.?
Next up to speak about Saturday nights fight was Pacquiao?s promoter Murad Muhammad, who pointed out that originally Pacquiao was gearing up for a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez until Marquez priced himself out of the bout.
?Bob Arum and I had no idea we were going to put this show on, we sold HBO the Marquez rematch. Marquez, with all do respect, out of ignorance and not knowing the industry, priced himself out of the ballpark. Sad for Marquez, good for Manny Pacquiao!?
Muhammad described how he and Arum came up with the idea of a Morales/Pacquiao bout in place of the originally agreed upon Pacquiao/Marquez contest.
?I was sitting there with the old fox (Arum) and told him we couldn?t have egg on our face, we had to produce something equal or greater than Marquez/Pacquiao. I said to him, how about Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao. He sat back and said that?s it! The only reason two promoters can come to a decision like that is because his boxer doesn?t give a damn who he fights, he wants the best. My boxer on the other hand is the same way, he doesn?t give a damn who he fights, he wants the best.?
Murad continued by saying that Pacquiao has had his sights set on ?El Terrible? for a very long time.
?I am proud to be able to deliver what my boxer has been asking for, for over two years. Everyone thinks that this just happened in the mind of Pacquiao, but Pacquaio sat in the office of Time Warner in front of the president and vice presidents and they said what do you want to do in your career? Pacquiao said I want Erik Morales! They said whom else do you want? I want Marco Antonio Barrera.?
Murad explained why it took this long for Pacquaio to finally land a shot against Morales.
?We couldn?t get Morales at the time because he was doing Pay Per View events, so we had to prove we were a Pay Per View commodity and Barrera took our offer, allowing us to get in the ring. So we went and fought the legend Antonio Barrera, and all of the ?experts? said we shouldn?t be there, and Pacquaio destroyed the great Mexican fighter Marco Antonio Barrera.?
Although Pacquiao had beaten Barrera, Murad Muhammad and Manny Pacquaio?s work was not done just yet.
?Bob Arum said if you want to get to my champion (Morales) who can sell Pay Per View without all of you, then you have to prove yourself. I said good, give me Marquez, and he (Pacquaio) knocks him down three times, but for some strange reason one of the judges forgot how to add, I said that?s ok, because controversy is what makes our sport. We feel we beat Marquez!?
After Muhammad?s stirring performance at the dais, the power punching Filipino finally took the microphone, addressing the media in attendance in English.
?This is a big opportunity for me, come see a good fight on Saturday. I am ready, I am ready for this fight, don?t miss it, just watch, it will be a good fight!?
Before Morales would get to speak, his manager Fernando Beltran let off a little steam towards Pacquaio?s camp regarding the numerous reports on the Internet that the Pacquaio camp was seeking a quick knockout of ?El Terrible.?
?I keep reading on the internet that Pacquiao is going to knock out Erik Morales in one round, two rounds or three rounds. Let me ask everyone in this room. When was the last time Erik Morales has been knocked out? The answer is never. It’s very disrespectful of the Pacquiao camp to say what they’ve been saying the last few weeks. I have $100,000 of my own money that I’ll put on Erik. I want to see if he’ll stand up and take [the bet].”
After receiving no initial response regarding his ?bet? from the Pacquaio camp, Beltran sat down and allowed Morales to take the stand.
?Manny Pacquaio is a warrior who has a lot of power. I am very happy because I have had great preparation and will put on a great fight for the people. I know that he has confidence because he already fought Barrera and Marquez, but we are very, very different, there is a lot of difference between us and those other fighters. I know he is a warrior; people from those countries are very strong people, a strong person to fight, but a Mexican never goes back. We are going to be in front of him all night, we are going to win this fight!!?
Also on the card is a mini flyweight elimination battle between Jorge Arce, 38-3-1, (28) and Hussein Hussein, 26-1, (20).
Hussein was the first of the two combatants to speak, keeping his comments regarding Saturdays contest short and sweet.
?Saturday is going to be a great night, it?s a great undercard and were looking forward to it. It?s a big event, I?m fighting a great champion, he?s coming up a division and he?s going to find it very hard when he comes into that ring. Come Saturday night you?re going to be in for a great fight, two little guys going toe-to-toe.?
Next up was Jorge Arce, who also got right to the point regarding his Saturday fight and move up in weight.
?It?s an honor to me to be on the same card of my great, great friend and the most spectacular fighter that Mexico has right now? Erik Morales! I?m really prepared, I?m coming up in weight from 108 pounds and I would like to tell all of the 112 pound fighters to be careful! I want to tell Erik and Manny Pacquiao that the ring is going to be very hot after I walk out and they walk in. Don?t be late!!?
Competing in a twelve round super featherweight contest will be Eric Morel, 34-1, (18) vs. Martin Castillo, 27-1, (16)
Morel made it crystal clear what this title bout means to him.
?I want to be a world champion four times, I want to have four titles. After I retire I want to be able to say I was a four-time champion. This is an opportunity that will open a lot of doors; it?s something I cannot just let go by. I?m ready mentally, physically and looking forward to Saturday.?
When it was Castillo?s turn to speak, he remained very brief with his comments, choosing instead to do his talking inside the ring.
?I am ready to fight I will give the best of myself for every single round, every single minute, we can have a great show.?
Also on the undercard of Morales/Pacquiao is undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., 16-0, (11) who will compete in a six round lightweight affair.
Chavez spoke briefly, but clearly expressed his support for his fellow Mexican fighters.
?I?m ready for Saturday night, I am very happy to be on Saturdays card. I hope on Saturday that I will bring the best of me to give the people a good fight. I hope that all of the Mexican fighters win on Saturday night!?
The suggested Pay Per View price for the Morales vs. Pacquiao fight is $44.95. On Friday March 18th at 10:30 P.M. Eastern/Pacific time and Saturday March 19th at 4:00P.M. Easter/Pacific time, HBO2 will showcase both the Morales vs. Barrera 1 bout and also the Pacquiao vs. Marquez bout.
