THE camp of World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera believes that Mexican idol Erik Morales is hell bent in getting his third fight with Filipino boxing marvel Manny Pacquiao, even if it means killing himself to make the 130-lb limit.
In an overseas telephone interview, Golden Boy Promotions Vice President Eric Gomez said this will be the first time for Morales to hire a nutritionist and a conditioning coach just to make sure that the Mexican will make the 130-lb weight limit without sapping his energy.
“He’s never done that before. Maybe this time it will be easy for him to make the weight though I really am not sure because he is not with us. But if he’s going to do that, maybe it will work for him,” disclosed Gomez.
Morales’ promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc. recently told Las Vegas Review Journal that they are planning to tap the services of Mexican trainer and nutritionist Tiburcio Garcia to work with Morales.
Pacquiao insists he will give Morales his third fight only if he agrees to fight at 130. Morales, who claimed making the superfeatherweight limit led to his downfall to Pacquiao in their rematch last January, wants to face the Filipino superstar at a catchweight of 132.
Meanwhile, Gomez revealed that there are minor talks between them and the Pacquiao camp though he concedes that Morales has the inside track of being Pacquiao’s next marquee fight.
Golden Boy Promotions, owned by boxing superstar Oscar Dela Hoya, has a standing offer for Pacquiao to fight Barrera on Nov. 4 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Obviously Pacquiao has a contract to fight Morales and we respect that. And we really can’t get involved until he takes care of that matter,” added Gomez.
Gomez however said they are a bit skeptical about the earnestness in completing the Morales-Pacquiao trilogy, citing that an exact date and venue has yet to be even mentioned.
“If you are serious about doing the fight, if you’re serious about making things happen, you set up a date and get a venue. That is one of the first things promoters do if you are going to do a big fight of that magnitude. And for them not to have a date and venue, It’s very suspicious,” assumed Gomez.
Sources from the Morales camp relates that Morales will still have to work with their new team of trainers and nutritionists to determine whether the Mexican can really make the weight or not.
Although Pacquiao is contractually obligated to give Morales a third fight, Gomez is still optimistic that the Pacquiao-Barrera rematch can happen on Nov. 4.
“We’re going to wait and see what happens. Barrera will be available for November 4 and he wants to fight the best. We want the Pacquiao fight and if he’s available and if he’s out of the contract with Morales we will pursue Manny heavily and try to make the fight,” said Gomez.
