LOS ANGELES, California — Manny Pacquiao is obsessed with Erik Morales. Bewitched? Of course, not. Pacquiao just simply wants a rematch — it could be a grudge rematch.
The GenSan hitter is even willing to be away from his loved ones during the holiday season so he could concentrate on his training when they slug it out again on Jan. 21, 2006 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, who is likely to receive a paycheck of $1.750 million in his next fight, is raring to settle an old score against Morales.”Ako ang babawi,” said Pacquiao on Sunday when asked about the possibility that the rematch would not take place after Morales suffered a humiliating loss to Zahir Raheem on the same night the Filipino lefty demolished Hector Velazquez.
“Sana naman ay pagbigyan niya (Morales) ako,” said Pacquiao.
Morales was pathetic against Raheem and his promoter Bob Arum had to contradict himself and told the press right after the conclusion of the well-attended card that Pacquiao and Morales will indeed go at it one more time in January.
Pacquiao, who dropped a 12-round decision to Morales last March 19 at the MGM Grand, has vowed to press the action right from the start.
“Sasagasaan ko ‘yan,” said Pacquiao. “Talagang maghahanda ako para sa kanya. Dadaanin ko sa resistance. Hindi ko siya tatantanan. Lagi akong naroon kahit siya maputo.”
Instead of training for just one month, like what he did in this recent fight, Pacquiao said he will train for two months probably in seclusion going into the final four to six weeks.
His trainers plan to bring him to Phoenix, Arizona, so he won’t have the luxury of spending more quality time with the so-called “LA Boys.”
Training proper will begin in the Philippines sometime in November after he returns from a brief visit here to watch his younger brother Bobby take on the wild-swinging El Salvadoran Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez on Oct. 8 in Las Vegas.
Freddie Roach, conditioning coach Justin Fortune, manager Shelly Finkel, lawyer Nick Khan and promoter Gary Shaw are scheduled to arrive in Manila in the second week of December. They are also likely to assist Pacquiao in a gift-giving charity to his provincemates.
Pacquiao said the day after his 27th birthday on Dec. 17, he will join them on a flight to the US.
When Morales fought Pacquiao, he was coming off a loss to Marco Antonio Barrera.
“Morales fights well coming off a loss and Manny should not take him lightly,” noted adviser Joe Ramos.
