LOS ANGELES — Speaking of immediate prospects, trainer Freddie Roach said Manny Pacquiao would “rest in Manila, fight two more fights this year, while waiting for Morales to be ready next year.”
That means there would be no Pacquiao-Morales III this year, although Marco Antonio Barrera has again loomed big as a next opponent.
These details were gleaned from an interview conducted by the GMA-7 team that joined Pacquiao when he made a triumphant return to the Wild Card Gym Tuesday from his conquest of Erik Morales last Saturday.
Pacquiao was scheduled to depart yesterday evening for Manila, where he is expected on Friday morning, local time.
“Pacquiao will fight two fights this year, but Morales won’t be ready until eight months or maybe a year,” GMA-7 cameraman Greg Gonzales quoted Roach as saying.
Pacquiao, in a blue shirt, discussed immediate plans with Roach during the brief visit where the boxing superstar was hailed by a big group that included his countrymen, the staff and boxers working out in the gym.
The Battle, the second clash between the ring rivals, could’ve been an eliminator for the WBC super featherweight boxing title held by Barrera.
But Pacquiao had told the Inquirer he refused the WBC proposal because of the $50,000 sanction fee being imposed by the world boxing body.
“Eliminator lang, hindi bale kung championship (This was not even the championship),” Pacquiao had protested.
Of course, as holder of the WBC International title, reserved for fighters rated 11th and above by the association, Pacquiao also has the right to immediately challenge Barrera for the 130-pound crown proper.
There was a rematch clause in the contract of the Battle, but promoters had to momentarily junk this due to the severe punishment suffered by Morales, who was rushed to the hospital for a check-up after the humiliating loss to Pacquiao.
Olympian Zahir Raheem, who had beaten Morales last September, did not figure in the Roach-Pacquiao conversation.
Among those who greeted Pacquiao in his triumphant return to Wild Card was Mexican boxing great Bobby Chacon. He kissed the RP hero and had a photo taken with Pacquiao, also known as the Mexican Assassin here.
