Tijuana’s Erik Morales and Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, who arrived in the US on Friday night, will embark on a multiple city tour to promote there much anticipated rematch on January 21, 2006 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (40-3-2, 35KO’s), who turns twenty-seven next month, is keen on avenging his defeat to the crafty Mexican Morales last March, in what turned out to be one of the best fights of the year.
Morales (48-3, 34KO’s), who is only twenty-nine, is approaching his 13th year as a professional with more than fifty fights to his resume.
“I feel I’m in my prime,” said Morales. “I underestimated Raheem, but I know what to expect from Pacquiao … he’s a great fighter, and I know I have to bring my best.”
Morales lost his last bout against the 1996 US Olympian, Zahir Raheem, but has often been criticized for not getting motivated for bouts against “lesser opposition.” That may have been the case in September, when Morales struggled to make the contracted weight of 135 -five pounds north of his bout with Pacquiao- and was dominated from start-to-finish.
Prior to his first bout with Pacquiao, an issue arose about what gloves would be worn for the fight. Pacquiao, along with his trainer Freddie Roach, preferred “Reyes” gloves over Morales’ “Winning” gloves, which are much larger and offer a lot more padding for defensive purposes. Reyes, a punchers glove, could have favored Pacquiao, who is known for his dynamite left-hand.
“Reyes gloves will make a big difference,” said Roach. “Manny is much more comfortable with Reyes gloves, and he is much more confident with them, and that is the key.”
Pacquiao and Morales met in Las Vegas on Saturday at a press conference hosted by Wynn Las Vegas, and will again meet on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The Erik Morales vs. Manny Pacquiao fight will be a WBC Super Featherweight Title eliminator and will be televised LIVE on HBO PPV on Saturday, January 21, 2006 from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
