AFTER Oscar Larios, now comes Erik Morales, again.
Manny Pacquiao, fresh from his lopsided unanimous decision victory over Larios, will go up against Morales for the third time.
The Pacquiao-Morales rubber match has been set November 18 this year at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, handlers of the Filipino boxing sensation announced during the post-fight press conference Sunday.
Shelly Finkel, Pacquiao’s manager, said Bob Arum of Top Rank has already penciled the date as Morales is reportedly aching to get back at Pacquiao.
Pacquiao and Morales split their first two meetings, with the Mexican winning the first bout on points and the Filipino taking the second via an 11th-round technical knock out win last January. Both fights were also held in Las Vegas.
The 27-year-old Pacquiao, the punching machine from General Santos City, floored Larios twice on the way to scoring a unanimous decision and retaining his WBC international super feathwerweight crown before a roaring Sunday crowd at the historic Big Dome.
Larios, who hails from Guadalajara, also suffered a pair of cuts and was bloodied at the end of the grueling fight, although he put up a gallant performance against Pacquiao.
During the post-fight press conference, Larios said he really wanted to beat Pacquiao, but admitted he just couldn’t offset the latter’s speed.
Pacquiao, as in his previous victories, dedicated his win to the Filipino people. (CRAM)
