By Alfredo Jaime Gómez, notifight.com

Erik "Terrible" Morales is ready to start training next week at the Otomi Ceremonial, focusing on his next fight on December 18 in Tijuana. Morales revealed to BoxingScene.com/NotiFight.com that he is "working to get Jorge Barrios" as the opponent. Barrios is very interested in the fight and Morales thinks it will happen. The card itself will happen at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, which can seat 21,000 people.

Morales continues to move down in weight. The goal is to face Juan Manuel Marquez for the lightweight belts in 2011. Morales says the fight with Barrios would take place at "138-pounds." In his most recent fight, Morales was 143-pounds, but he could have made less. If he can't get down to 135, he will go for a title at 140.

"Yes, in my recent contest I was 143 and I could made less, but that's not an excuse. I had setbacks. During the training I got sick and took medication. I couldn't kill my body with so much medicine. I want to fight a big fight in the first quarter [of 2011]. It may be against Juan Manuel Marquez or another opponent. I've spoken a lot about this with Golden Boy Promotions and they said Juan is interested," Morales said.