THE FIRST punch has been thrown in relation with the Nov. 18 rubber match between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales.
Morales expressed his disgust over reports that came out from the Philippines quoting Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, who had called the Mexican a loud-mouth and a nasty guy while Roach was in Manila for the Oscar Larios fight.
While Morales criticized Roach for putting words into his mouth, the Mexican puncher nicknamed “El Terrible” issued a warning that was ran by fightnews.com yesterday.
Morales, who turns 30 in September, and Pacquiao, 27, will slug it out at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas in a scheduled 12-rounder that will be also seen on pay-per-view.
“I have never insulted the Filipino people in my life, to the contrary I believe that they are as well as the Mexican fans who are very loyal to their boxers and have well-rounded knowledge of boxing,” said Morales as he denied having said any malicious comments regarding Pacquiao and his countrymen.
“I have never put Pacquiao’s greatness as a warrior in doubt either. I have mentioned in some interviews what I believe are his weaknesses, but I have never said that I don’t respect him, because that is not true, I do respect him as a fighter,” said Morales, who will spend two months in the Otomi Mountains for training beginning in September.
“Just like Pacquiao had his opinion on why he lost to me the first time, I also have my opinion on why I lost to him last January. For one I was overconfident after beating him so easily the first time and two, I made some mistake in my training camp that I will not make for this third fight.”
Morales, who is mandated to make the 130-lb limit for the third fight, is raring to get into the ring and prove his mastery over the Filipino lefty.
“If he (Roach) can’t wait to see Manny try to beat me again, just tell him that Nov. 18 will be here soon enough. In the meantime, he should stay out of my business and get his guy ready for another war,” Morales said.
