LAS VEGAS – Big money would seem to dictate a third Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight, but there are doubts because of questions about Morales’ future, including his ability to make the 130-pound limit.
Dehydration, in addition to Pacquiao’s deadly body blows, led to fatigue and his eventual loss by technical knockout Saturday night in the 10th round of a dramatic exchange of passion and punches at Thomas & Mack Center.
Morales went to a local hospital as precaution after his only loss by knockout. No serious injuries were reported, but he required an IV to replenish fluids. At the weigh-in Friday, he appeared gaunt.
There was a telling moment after he stepped off the scale at precisely 130 pounds. He did an immediate about-face and grabbed a bottle of water in a gesture by a desperately thirsty man who had weakened himself to fulfill the contract, which was worth $2.75 million to him and $2 million to Pacquiao. For weeks before the opening bell to the rematch of Morales’ victory last March, Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach alluded to his problems at making weight. Morales fought as a lightweight (135 pounds) in his loss last September to Zahir Raheem.
Then, Roach detected a flaw that allowed Pacquiao to capitalize with an old-school tactic.
“Erik has a propensity to hold his hands way up,” said Roach, who said the fight started to swing in Pacquiao’s favor in the sixth as signs of Morales’ fatigue began to multiply. “That leaves his body wide open. We saw that, and we broke him down.”
Meanwhile, there are doubts Pacquiao will move up and beyond super featherweight anytime soon. His official weight was 128 1/2 pounds. Roach said his ideal weight is at 126. The contract for Saturday night’s bout included the inevitable rematch clause.
Morales’ management could invoke it, Pacquiao promoter Gary Shaw said.
A couple of other rematches are possibilities for Pacquiao, Shaw said. There is Marco Antonio Barrera, whom Pacquiao stopped in the 11th round of a 126-pound bout. And there is Juan Manuel Marquez, whom Pacquiao battled to a draw, also at 126, after flooring him three times in the first round.
Briefs
?€? National colors, Filipino flags for Pacquiao and Mexican for Morales, flew throughout the bout. After the fight, Pacquiao thanked Mexican fans. “Because they respect all boxers, especially me,” he said.
?€? In the Philippines, the fight started a little bit after noon on Sunday. The Filipino media were so focused on the fight, a story in Manila newspapers about rumors of a military coup was hard to find amid all the attention given to the beloved Pacquiao. There was no coup, but then again, the military probably didn’t have time to pull one off. It was too busy watching Pacquiao.
