In a bitter tirade, Erik Morales said recently Manny Pacquiao is a braggart whose luck will run out when they meet in the “Grand Finale” at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 18.
Morales’ broadside belied the dislike he has for Pacquiao who is the only fighter ever to stop the Tijuana warrior.
Although the fighters shake hands and are civil to each other in front of the press, there is no love lost between them.
When Morales was told that Pacquiao has vowed to give him a beating so bad to force his retirement, “El Terrible” recoiled and accused the Pac-Man of not having the b*lls to tell him to his face.
The war of words in media is nothing new in the run-up to a big bout. Fighters try to mentally shake up the other in a psychological ploy that’s meant to blunt the focus of training in camp.
Pacquiao is used to it and just laughs off the idle banter. Morales’ words enter one ear and out the other. His concentration is unruffled. At the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles , Pacquiao is all business.
Morales has clearly taken the offensive in the verbal tussle.
At the Otomi Mountains in Mexico , he has lived like a Spartan and is diligently getting his body ready for Pacquiao. Morales hasn’t trained as hard for a fight in the last five years and realizes it’s win or go home in a bold attempt to extend his career that appears to be at an ebb.
Morales, 30, hasn’t fought since losing to Pacquiao on a 10th round technical knockout in Las Vegas last January. It was the third loss in his last four outings and the worst in his career.
Despite suffering two knockdowns, Morales gave no credit to Pacquiao and said he lost because of exhaustion, not because the Filipino was a better fighter that night.
“Pacquiao was lucky in our second fight,” said Morales in Spanish, quoted by Salvador Rodriguez in La Opinion. “He was lucky that I got tired in the second half of the fight. I gave him a boxing lesson in the first few rounds and I was ahead on points after five rounds. Then I got tired and his luck started to change.”
But Morales said in their rubber match, Pacquiao won’t be as lucky.
“His luck will run out because simply and honestly, I am the superior fighter,” said Morales. “I am taller and better.”
Morales said Pacquiao is a braggart and he will make him eat his words.
“I think he is scared,” continued Morales. “He always boasts that he sent me to the hospital after the second fight but the truth is I went on my own to have my cuts treated. Then, his people suggested we could weigh up to 132 pounds for the third fight. When I agreed, he backtracked. When we are face to face, he doesn’t say anything. But when my back is turned, he says a lot of things.”
Morales said he has nothing to prove against Pacquiao and his only goal is to change the public perception that he is ready toretire.
“Everybody knows I just had an off-night when I lost to Pacquiao,” he said. “I want the fans to know I am a better fighter than him and they will see it when I win our third fight.”
A Team Pacquiao insider dismissed Morales’ comments as the ranting of a frightened fighter facing the grim prospect of retirement.
“Morales shooting his mouth off shows he’s desperately trying to convince himself and those around him that he has a chance against Manny,” said the insider. “He can talk all he wants but when the bell rings, Manny will let his fists do the talking.”
