GOOD THING that Christmas Day fell on a Sunday because had it been an ordinary day, Manny Pacquiao would have been forced to sweat it out at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, as there’s less than a month before he collides with Erik ‘’El Terrible’’ Morales.
‘’I trained on Christmas Eve and was lucky to have a rest day (on Christmas Day),’’ Pacquiao told the Bulletin during a break in his training in Los Angeles. ‘’I am doing okay (in my training) and there’s no need to worry.’’
Training assistant Buboy Fernandez said Pacquiao, 27, who faces Morales on Jan. 21, 2006 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, has sparred almost 50 rounds since early-December mostly against Armando Sta. Cruz, a rangy Mexican lightweight.
‘’Walang problema sa ensayo ni Manny, kuya,’’ Fernandez said. ‘’He is very serious during gym days and when he is not training, he spends his time inside his apartment just sending emails to his friends.’’
From his training headquarters in Queretaro, Mexico, Morales’ conditioning coach told the Mexican media that he is optimistic that Morales has a strong chance of ending the fight inside the distance of 12 rounds.
‘’I feel confident that Morales will win by knockout,’’ said Raul Robles, who points to the dedication the Tijuana-bred fighter has shown the past few weeks as reason why he predicts a victory by knockout.
The last time they met, Morales needed all 12 rounds to hammer out a close but unanimous decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Robles said Morales is eager to make up for the stunning loss to Zahir Raheem a few months back in Los Angeles and an impressive win over Pacquiao should restore Morales’ pride.
Pacquiao is a 7-5 favorite according to oddsmakers.
