TWO days after absorbing the worst beating in his great career at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, Erik Morales offered no excuses, saying he ran into “a guy with a lot of ambition who wanted to win very much” and added he had “nothing but respect for Pacquiao.”
Morales, who returned to his San Diego home on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), added Pacquiao “was in great condition and was obviously well prepared to fight me.
“It was a very tough intense, fight. I think I had some good moments early, but was getting very tired as the fight was going in the later rounds. I have nothing but respect for Pacquiao, he’s a good person and he beat me, you won’t hear any excuses from me,” Morales told the boxing website fightnews.com.
Pacquiao, 27, decked Morales twice in the 10th round at the Thomas and Mack Center last Sunday and won by technical knockout at the 2:33 mark, handing the Mexican his first loss by stoppage.
Morales said he was taken to a hospital after the fight “to make sure that I was alright and everything came out fine.” He said he is now looking forward to getting some rest and spending some time with his wife (Andrea)” who is due to give birth to their first child (a boy) next month.
Meanwhile, Shelly Finkel, Pacquiao’s manager, said the Filipino ring hero would gladly face Morales in a third fight if the Mexican wants it but stressed the top pick should be world super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera.
“Logically, unless there’s something else, we’d go after Marco Antonio Barrera. But we will honor the contract if Morales wants it,” Finkel told the website maxboxing.com.
A clause in the contract of last Sunday’s fight stipulates a rematch if Pacquiao wins but even Morales seemed not too keen on another fight.
Pacquiao himself said he believes Morales will bounce back soon.
“I think he can come back,” said Pacquiao. “He has a lot of time, maybe three years more.”
Morales himself said he will take a little time out to think about his plans, and that his team is behind him fully.
“Bob Arum and Top Rank have given me their unconditional support as they always have. Now I will take some time off and think about what my next move will be,” Morales said.
