A lot of work is in store for Manny Pacquiao if he is to repeat his sensational knockout win over Erik Morales when they meet for the third time in Las Vegas four months from now.
The flamboyant 27-year-old Filipino fighter appeared far from impressive during his Sunday 12-round slugfest with tough customer Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum in a fight Pacquiao won by unanimous decision, but not after nearly getting knocked down during one anxious stretch of the third round.
That left a lot to be desired with his upcoming Nov. 18 return bout with Morales, whom a well-conditioned Pacquiao dealt his worst career beating with a 10th round technical knockout during their second meeting last January at the Thomas & Mack Center in Nevada.
Pacquiao said he?ll try to retire Morales when they clash in the third installment of their famed rivalry.
Morales, however, vowed to ?clobber Pacquiao much easier this time.?
?Kung si Morales ang nasa ring nun baka natapos si Manny,? said a Team Pacquiao member, recalling the incident when a solid left hook by Larios in the third round had Pacquiao reeling on the ropes and on the verge of going down.
American trainer Freddie Roach appeared not impressed at the way Pacquaio carried himself against the 29-year old Larios, giving the General santos City a rating of six on a scale of 1-10.
?Manny did not do what was expected. I didn?t see him fighting until the sixth round. I wasn?t satisfied. I?m not happy,? said Roach, who had predicted days before the bout that Pacquiao would win inside six rounds.
But Roach admitted the Larios fight was a good workout for Pacquiao, a great opportunity, which he said, gives them enough time to develop on things that need to be improved.
?We?ll start training against Morales,? said Roach, adding training camp starts next month with a 45-day workout in the Philippines.
Pacquiao himself said Larios is slower than Morales. He referred to Larios, whom he knocked down twice during their bout, as a wild fighter.
But Larios, a two-time world champion from Guadalajara, Mexico, was only among the few to go the distance against the Filipino southpaw.
Morales decisioned Pacquiao during their first meeting but got clobbered the next time. Marco Antonio Barrera, another Mexican ring legend like Morales, was terribly beaten in 11 rounds of their November 2003 fight in Texas.
This developed as the camp of Larios clarified reports that they are asking for a rematch.
?No, we?re not asking for a rematch,? said Rafael Mendoza, the agent of Larios. ?What we?re saying is that if Pacquiao wants another fight, then we?re ready for it.?
But Pacquiao shot down a second meeting with the lanky Mexican.
?I don?t think may rematch pa. Nakita naman ninyo ang nangyari sa laban. Kailangan pa ba ng rematch nun,? said Pacquiao.
A day after his victory over Larios, Pacquiao paid a courtesy call at the Manila City Hall, then proceeded to Malaca?ang where he had an audience with President Arroyo.
He was later awarded by the President a medal of recognition.He is also to be given the Congressional Medal Achievement award when the Chief Executive gives her State of the National Address on July 24. The award is the highest being given by Congress to Filipino achievers.
Pacquiao is the only athlete to receive the recognition twice.
