As Erik Morales of Tijuana has prepared for his rematch against Manny Pacquiao tomorrow in Las Vegas, one significant figure has been conspicuously absent.
His father.
Jose Morales, the former champion’s lifelong trainer and half of one of the most successful father-son boxing teams in history, stepped aside because of health and other problems after his son lost to Zahir Raheem in September. He has been replaced by Jose Luis Lopez Sr.
And while the younger Morales insists his relationship with his father is fine, it wasn’t a clean break.
Jose Morales has complained publicly that his son did not compensate him fairly for his work over the years, according to publicist Ricardo Jimenez, who has worked with the fighter for years.
“Over the last few years he’s talked about not wanting to do this anymore,” Erik Morales said through an interpreter. ” . . . I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. So it happened.
“I know he has been talking to some of the press and saying things that I really don’t understand. But as far as I’m concerned, we’re good.”
Jimenez said the elder Morales had complained for years about having to conduct training camp at high altitude in the town of Toluca, not far from Mexico City.
“I’d say the last three times they went up there, he didn’t like it,” Jimenez said. “He didn’t feel well. He has diabetes and other problems. He was away from home for eight weeks at a time. He said, ‘I don’t want to do this.’
“Erik said, ‘If you won’t to do this, we’ll make some changes.’ When Erik lost to Raheem, he told his dad that ‘maybe it was a good thing to go our separate ways,’ and the father said, ‘Fine.’ “
If Morales, who has a home in San Diego, is worried about such a significant change before such a big fight, he’s not letting on.
He chose Lopez to replace his father after seeing him work with his own son, successful middleweight Jose Luis Lopez Jr. The elder Lopez, a former contender himself, has demanded that Morales follow a strict regimen and apparently the fighter has responded well.
“I’ve adapted really well to Jose Lopez Sr.,” Morales said. ” . . . He understands me. He’s not really changing anything on me. He’s just helping me, correcting some of the mistakes I make.”
More change Gloves have become a hot topic in the rematch. In their first meeting, which Morales won by decision in March, the fight contract stipulated that Pacquiao wear Winning gloves (known to be relatively soft) as opposed to Reyes gloves (the preference of big punchers such as Pacquiao).
In this fight, each boxer was allowed to use whichever brand he wants. Pacquiao will wear Reyes gloves while Morales will stick with Winning gloves.
“The thing is that Winning gloves, they are like pillows,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer. “They are not puncher’s gloves, so they definitely have some effect on the puncher power. . . . I think we will be much more comfortable going into the fight with gloves we choose.”
