By Mark Vester

At a recent press conference to announce a sporting Marathon in Tijuana, Mexico, former three-division champion Erik Morales, 31, announced that he was planning a return to ring in 2009.

"In August I will begin training under my father, getting used a boxing gym again and work off some weight. I'm going to work well over a year and in August of 2009 - I hope to return in a fight to test where I'm at. And if things go well, I hope to next fight for a lightweight title. I'm hoping to win the title of the WBC," Morales told writer Ernesto Castellanos.

Morales disclosed that a few months ago he was offered a fourth fight with Marco Antonio Barrera, but turned it down because he wants to be on top again before such a fight. He doesn't rule out a possibly meeting with Barrera in the future.

"I never really retired. I want to win a fourth world title in a fourth weight class and I still have the drive. 

Morales lost his last four fights, starting with Zahir Raheem, two back to back knockout losses to Manny Pacquiao and dropped a twelve-round decision to WBC lightweight champion David Diaz. He felt that he should of won the Diaz fight, and several experts had actually scored the fight in his direction. The official scores were close, 114-113, 115-113 and 115-112.

He admits that his conditioning was poor for the third fight with Pacquiao and said that a lot of personal problems affected his training. He picks Pacquiao, now a good friend, to beat Diaz next Saturday.

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com