LEGENDARY Mexican Erik “El Terrible” Morales has predicted that Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao will win his July 2 Mano-A-Mano showdown with Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum, although he was hoping that Larios will win because he is a Mexican like himself.
In an interview with ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo in San Diego and released on the Manny Pacquiao Web site, Morales said Larios is a good, fast fighter, but he still believes Pacquiao will win.
ABS-CBN is bankrolling the fight card staged by Manny Pacquiao Promotions to the tune of $4 million and has spared no effort in hyping the event.
Morales said that moving up from the super bantamweight limit of 122 pounds, where Larios was twice world champion to 130 lb was “a big adjustment” and that fighting at a heavier weight “will be a problem.”
Morales, who engaged Pacquiao in two epic battles, winning the first by a unanimous decision in a bloody encounter and losing by a 10th-round demolition in the rematch, conceded that Pacquiao was “technically a better fighter,” but claimed that Larios “has a chance if Pacquiao doesn’t prepare well.”
Although Pacquiao would have a mere five-week training by the time the fight takes place, trainer Freddie Roach said the Filipino ring icon is in great shape and will win by a knockout.
Roach was reported looking ahead at the third encounter with Morales set for sometime in November, even during training for the Larios fight and has indicated he wants Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym two months before the third Morales fight.
Morales himself said he would be well prepared, saying he was eager to fight Pacquiao a third time.
