borikua
11-10-2004, 01:51 PM
by Salven L. Lagumbay
World Boxing Council super-featherweight king Erik "El Terrible" Morales yesterday announced his intention to defend his title on February 12, 2005 against world featherweight champ Manny Pacquiao, despite earlier announcements that the Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez showdown has already been set on the same month.
Morales (47-1, 34 KO's), who is currently training in Mexico’s Centro Ceremonial Otomi mountains for his November 27 rubber-match with Marco Antonio Barrera at the MGM Grand, feels that he is capable of knocking out Barrera when they meet for the third time and that his upcoming battle with Barrera will establish him as Mexico’s premier fighter.
"I have just renewed my contract with my promoter Top Rank for three more years and they informed me that I have date for my next fight which is the 12th of February and one of the rivals being mentioned is Manny Pacquiao,” Morales informed in an exclusive interview with a Mexican newspaper.
Earlier, HBO had released its first-quarter calendar wherein the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch is being tabbed for February 26.
Should Morales prevail over Barrera on November 27, chances are both Marquez and Morales will then be in tug-of-war as to who Pacquiao will face next.
The Filipino superstar is himself training for a December 11 tune-up bout against Thai Fahsan 3K Battery in Taguig, Manila.
Meanwhile, reports coming out of Pacquiao’s training camp has it that the Filipino champ is planning to rack up some 80 rounds of sparring prior to his scheduled 12-rounder with Fahsan 3K Battery.
Tapped to provide much-needed sparring minutes with Pacquiao are RP lightweight champ Fernando Montilla and Kidapawan City fighters Christopher Saluday and Arnel Porras.
World Boxing Council super-featherweight king Erik "El Terrible" Morales yesterday announced his intention to defend his title on February 12, 2005 against world featherweight champ Manny Pacquiao, despite earlier announcements that the Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez showdown has already been set on the same month.
Morales (47-1, 34 KO's), who is currently training in Mexico’s Centro Ceremonial Otomi mountains for his November 27 rubber-match with Marco Antonio Barrera at the MGM Grand, feels that he is capable of knocking out Barrera when they meet for the third time and that his upcoming battle with Barrera will establish him as Mexico’s premier fighter.
"I have just renewed my contract with my promoter Top Rank for three more years and they informed me that I have date for my next fight which is the 12th of February and one of the rivals being mentioned is Manny Pacquiao,” Morales informed in an exclusive interview with a Mexican newspaper.
Earlier, HBO had released its first-quarter calendar wherein the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch is being tabbed for February 26.
Should Morales prevail over Barrera on November 27, chances are both Marquez and Morales will then be in tug-of-war as to who Pacquiao will face next.
The Filipino superstar is himself training for a December 11 tune-up bout against Thai Fahsan 3K Battery in Taguig, Manila.
Meanwhile, reports coming out of Pacquiao’s training camp has it that the Filipino champ is planning to rack up some 80 rounds of sparring prior to his scheduled 12-rounder with Fahsan 3K Battery.
Tapped to provide much-needed sparring minutes with Pacquiao are RP lightweight champ Fernando Montilla and Kidapawan City fighters Christopher Saluday and Arnel Porras.