THE PARTY’S over for Erik Morales. The Mexican boxing star is set to undergo a four-week weight program in Los Angeles as he prepares for the crossroads third fight with Filipino punching machine Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas.
The Mexican media reported on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) that Morales, who will be 30 years old by the time he engages Pacquiao for the third time at the Thomas and Mack Center, will subject himself to a team of experts tasked to make sure the Mexican makes the 130-lb limit without going through hell.
“The vacation is over and all the time that I dedicated to my family like the baptism of my son Erik Isaac last Saturday is finished,” Morales told Esto in Spanish. “The moment has arrived for me to prepare for a very important fight.”
Morales, who won his first fight with Pacquiao on points but fared miserably in the rematch when Pacquiao battered him to a tenth round knockout defeat, said he was not physically and mentally prepared the last time out.
“I have realized why Zahir Raheem won and why I lost to Pacquiao,” said Morales, referring to the decision defeat he suffered to Raheem last September and the stunning stoppage setback to Pacquiao last January.
“There were many things. With Zahir it was overconfidence and that I did not prepare myself well. With Pacquiao many factors were combined. During the preparation we were focused on certain things, and I neglected the others. One of them was making the weight,” added Morales.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, is taking it nicely following his victory over Oscar Larios last July 2.
But by the time he reports for training at the Wild Card in Hollywood in mid-September, he promised that he’d already be in terrific shape.
Morales barely made the weight when he fought Pacquiao in the rematch and ringsiders believe El Terrible won’t be able to make it since he has outgrown the super-featherweight division of 130 lbs.
After spending several weeks in Los Angeles, Morales will proceed to Tijuana for the initial phase of his training.
The final eight weeks of his training will be done in the Otomi Mountains.
