When super-featherweight bullies Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales butt heads again on Jan. 22, there will be one significant change in Morales’ corner, and it could very well be a pivotal one.
And here’s why: Morales’ father Jose Morales – the strict, tough-talking figure who guided El Terible to three major world titles – will not be in his son’s corner anymore. Morales and his dad split after Erik’s embarrassing loss to lightweight upstart Zahir Raheem in September. Morales, however, said that the move was another step towards his growth as a practitioner of pugilism.
“Over the past few years, he talked about not wanting to do this anymore,” Morales was quoted by the Arizona Republic yesterday. “He has other fighters. He has health problems. For various reasons, he was thinking about not coming up to train anymore.”
Bitter
Morales’ optimism notwithstanding, Morales’ father expressed his bitterness over the split, and it remains to be seen how such a development will affect El Terible in his upcoming duel with Manny Pacquiao on Jan. 21 at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.
“I knew this was going to happen sooner or later. So it happened. I know he has been talking to the press and saying some things that I don’t really understand,” said the younger Morales. “But as far as I’m concerned, we’re good. Whatever comes from him is his. Whatever he’s saying is his.”
In a sense, the parting has put an end to one of boxing’s most notable father-son partnerships. Erik was born in a Tijuana boxing gym his dad ran, and Jose and Erik have been together since Erik began fighting professionally in Mexico as a teenager. Erik, 29, says that he is comfortable with his new trainer, Jose Luis Lopez, who brings a different perspective to the corner.
“He’s not really trying to change me,” said Morales, who emerged as the winner (via UD) in his first tussle with the Pacquiao in March last year.
