IS THIS another Jose Luis Castillo-Diego Corrales in the making?
Hope not, but the coming third fight between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales will have weight as the biggest issue and there’s a possibility that the eagerly awaited bout might end up being called off.
Fight fans dying to see Pacquiao and Morales square off atop the ring again definitely hate to see another controversy that surrounded the supposed third battle between Castillo and Corrales for the world lightweight championship a while back, which was cancelled when Castillo failed to make the weight after several tries.
All eyes will be on Morales, who had problems making the 130-pound weight limit during his first two ring battles with Pacquiao.
It was Morales himself who admitted this problem. When he was stopped by Pacquiao in the 10th round last January, the first time in his career that he got knocked out, Morales confessed he would not be able to make the 130-pound weight again.
But, motivated by the desire to avenge the worst defeat of his career and out to regain lost pride, Morales decided to take on Pacquiao for a third time even if it will be at 130 again.
This means that Morales, who won the first encounter with Pacquiao via a unanimous decision, will have to again kill himself in training just to make the weight.
This will work to Pacquiao’s advantage. The Filipino bomber is now comfortable fighting at 130 and his power and speed will not diminish come November 18 when he tangles with Morales in Las Vegas.
With the weight issue hounding Morales, Pacquiao’s handlers led by Shelly Finkel pulled off a masterstroke.
Seizing an opportunity, Finkel worked out stipulations in the contract that should Morales goes overweight this time, the Mexican warrior will have to pay enormous amount of money to Pacquiao as penalty.
Pacquiao stand to earn $1 million more aside from his huge paycheck if Morales fails to make the weight the night before their November 18 battle.
Based on the contract, Morales will have to pay Pacquiao $500,000 should he weights between 130.1 to 131 the night before their November 18 fight. If Morales goes beyond that and reaches 132, the penalty could reach $1 million.
And Pacquiao, more good news for him, can take the $1 million and has the option of not fighting Morales should trouble arises and the Mexican comes in over the weight limit.
“I’m just protecting my fighter,” Finkel told Fightnews.com.
Now, the question is: Will Pacquiao fight Morales even if he weights 131 or even at 132 lbs.?
When Corrales fought Castillo the second time around, Castillo actually came in as overweight but Corrales decided to fight.
Bad decision. A bigger Castillo knocked Corrales out cold in the fourth round.
