OUR DAILY DOZE OF PACMAN - EL TERIBLE FEVER

Pacquiao love-sick, not missing

Updated 10:26pm (Mla time) Jan 18, 2005
By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A23 of the January 19, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOS ANGELES, California, United States of America -- No, Manny Pacquiao is not missing. But he's "love-sick."

Uneasy, Pacquiao took a weekend break and left for San Francisco.

He came back here Monday still thinking of Erik Morales. He said he tried but could not get the good-looking Mexican ring legend out of his mind.

"Hindi siya maalis sa isip ko, gabi at araw ( I think of him day and night,)" Pacquiao said of Morales, whom he fights in Las Vegas on March 19.

Pacquiao's burning desire could also border on infatuation.

"Napapanaginipan ko na si Morales. Nagugutom ako, sobrang excited na ako dyan, eh (I've been dreaming of Morales, I'm terribly excited about him)," Pacquiao confided to the Inquirer yesterday.

He said he felt the same blues in the run-up to his fight against Marco Antonio Barrera, whom he demolished in November 2003.

Pacquiao said he left for San Francisco after completing his regimen Saturday. He spent Sunday in the cool, romantic city by the bay. He was, however, surprised when

he returned to reports that he had gone missing.

"Sunday naman, I decided to go to San Francisco to sign some papers," he explained sounding a bit displeased at the reports.

Monday was regular workout day and Pacquiao did the usual long, punishing gym regimen.

He said their planned trip to promote the March 19 clash in Mexico City will hinge on their interview at the Mexican embassy here.

"We need to get our visas, baka hindi kami pabalikin," said Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao's trainer.

Pacquiao is scheduled to spar Wednesday, but he said he would do it slowly and maybe start only with a four-round session.

There's no hurry to make the original adjustments which would have been a must had the Feb. 26 rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez not been scrapped.

Pacquiao, together with American trainer Freddie Roach, appears certain they will not have to do the chasing against Morales, a fierce and courageous competitor.

Said Roach: "Marquez is a boxer, but Morales is a fighter. I'm not worried, that will be to our advantage."

Morales' willingness to mix it up is clearly the reason why Pacquiao has started to be excited about the showdown, described by HBO as a riveting, historic match-up.

"Both fighters attack immediately, put pressure on their opponents and fire blistering punches," said the release issued by Top Rank.

"Morales and Pacquiao have been in many thrilling championship battles and are recognized by many as the two top action fighters in any weight class."

So far, there has been no significant change in the odds quoted at the betting windows in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, highly favored, said he would be glad if the odds would become even come fight time.

"Basta ako todo laban ko para sa Pilipinas at sa pamilya ko," he said.

Why Pac must attack …“Unprofessionally”

Kimo Morrison - 1/18/2005

“It’s not illegal until you get caught!” Words that should be taken for exactly how they sound. In a fight, a fighter must do what is necessary to win the fight, even if it means the occasional foul and a good trainer should tell his fighter just such. Adaptation and strategy being the two largest factors in a fight such as this, Freddie Roach must not be afraid to tell Manny Pacquiao to go low, hold and hit, even butt intentionally. Not enough to get points deducted…just enough to make one Erik Morales come and fight him out of anger without thinking...making it an all out war!

Boxing has it’s rules as do all sports, and for this we have a referee. In a fight that must be concluded in a slug fest, Pac-man must attack, attack, attack. And do so with vicious intent. He must make the boxer fight him. The way to do this is to continue fouling him with a variety of fouls until Morales has no other mind set then to go to war. Let the third man present set his standards on what he sees as a foul. Push every limit knowing what can and can not be gotten away with. Remember, unless a referee comes into the fight bias, he will give at least one warning for each foul and in all probability two before he then decides to take a point. As long as all the fouls occurring are graciously spread apart in the first couple rounds, a fighter should feel safe about testing his limitations. This is a fight girls so before getting so upset with what would be the perfect approach to making this a war just remember it is only a foul if the ref says so. Until that point, it is just another technical advantage by the one who decides to use it.

Many in the sport such as Big George and birds of the same feather may say that this is an ob-surd and dirty way to win even go so far as to call it cheating. How is this cheating though I ask if you are held accountable for your actions the same as your opponent? All that is being established is one fighter gaining knowledge of how the ref in this match is calling the fight the same as a pitcher who finds out where the strike zone is according to the umpire behind the plate in any particular game. A few will hit low in the balls catagory- pardon the pun- as well as outside until the umpires limits have been drawn. This happens in all sports, it just so happens that in boxing, when a fighter tests the rules as he sees fit, it may get ugly. That is where the referee must do his job. This is not the job of the boxer-too see how low is low-.

Erik Morales can be had for the taking, not because MAB beat him and Pac-Man beat MAB, but because he has vulnerabilities as do ALL men and I believe Freddie Roach is the type of trainer to be able to expose them. The only way to knock this guy out is to take his conditioning away from him which can be done. Though he can be knocked down early by a good shot, he has a nack for being able to shake punches off pretty quickly. Not only will going to war early sap his energy quicker due to expense of it personally, but if fouled correctly it can be taken away that much earlier. Little things like driving the chin down into his lat’s while in a clinch as to cause arm weariness, or if in an over-hook tie up, a light and unapparent tapping of the cup. All the while keeping busy testing limits as often as possible. This will wear Erik down sooner than he wishes opening him up for the first early stoppage of his career.

A trainer must take all pre-cautions in this type of fight plan. Watching for himself how the referee is calling the fight and letting his fighter know when enough is enough. Before then girls let it be blood, balls and brains till the last man stands alone!

The “Unprofessional Guy”

Arroyo eyes ringside seat at Manny’s fight

By nick giongco

DON’T BE surprised if First Gentleman Mike Arroyo ends up occupying one of the premium ringside seats on the night Manny Pacquiao squares off with Erik "Terrible" Morales at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 19.

Arroyo, whose First Gentleman’s Foundation, is leading the fund-raising drive, said yesterday that he will try his best to support Pacquiao’s quest for boxing immortality by flying to the US and joining the thousands of Filipinos in attendance at the 15,000-seat arena.

"That’s going to be in March ‘di ba? Yes, I will keep that in mind. Open ako sa pagpunta dyan," said Arroyo.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is one of Pacquiao’s main backers and the 26-year-old fighter has even been mentioned in the Chief Executive’s State-of-the-Nation Address in 2003 aside from being able to grace Malacañang a number of times following his successful campaigns on American soil.

Pacquiao, who drew with Juan Manuel Marquez and knocked out Fahsan 3K Battery last year, is already in Los Angeles revving up for the biggest fight of his career.

Roach Predicts Pacquiao By KO

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

2003 "Trainer of the Year" Freddie Roach has predicted that Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao will win by a late round knockout against Erik "El Terrible" Morales in their showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 19.

In an exclusive interview with correspondent Jannelle So for Viva Sports, Roach said Pacquiao will overcome Morales advantage in size with his "speed and youth"
and will "rise to the occasion and knock this guy out."

Roach said "we will wear him (Morales) down, fight him hard and it will be like the Barrera fight" referring to Pacquiao's eleventh round annihilation of the legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas on November 15, 2003.Roach indicated that they would "leave no stone unturned for this one. We won't miss a thing" pointing out that from now on "its all work." The astute American trainer who helped hone the skills of Pacquiao that have further accentuated his devastating power said Pacquiao will work seven days a week because he wants to, but will only do roadwork on Sundays. Roach said he was "happy that we have the extra time" because of the cancellation of the February 26 rematch with WBA/IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez. He added, "we were a little cramped for the February date and this is a more comfortable date."

Roach revealed that he'd been "thinking about this fight for a long time because Morales is one of the best guys out there. He is the most popular Mexican fighter in the world and does better on pay-per-view than any Mexican fighter out there. It's a much more exciting fight because Morales will fight you." Roach predicted that a Pacquiao victory will put the flamboyant Filipino southpaw "right on top of the featherweight division and the winner will come out the best pound-for-pound in the world today.

Roach said "this is a huge fight for Manny because after this fight we can get the rematch with Barrera and Marquez. These fights are out there and its something to look forward to." Despite his predictions of a late round KO win by Pacquiao, Roach refused to sell Morales short saying "he is bigger and taller and this is definitely a cause for concern. Its also the first time Manny will be fighting at 130 pounds. Its only four pounds heavier than his normal 126 pound weight. Its not a lot but it makes a little bit of difference."

However, Roach indicated he thought Pacquiao at 130 pounds "will be even stronger than at 126 and hit even harder. Manny is a devastating puncher and when he hits people, they feel it." Pacquiao's trainer said they planned to "study tapes of Morales" recent fights and study him deeper than we've done so far." Roach disclosed he had picked out two sparring partners who were "perfect" and could duplicate the style of Morales in the gym. Roach said Team Pacquiao was "going to work really hard on the right like we did in the Philippines" while training for the December 11 encounter with Fahsan 3K Battery.

Roach noted that Pacquiao "showed some improvement in his last fight and he'll be even better when we get to Morales." Roach emphasized they were going to work "really hard in the nine weeks we have. Pacquiao has to be in great shape for this fight because its going to be a hard fight."

Morales "Experience Will Overcome Speed"

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Erik "El Terrible" Morales has conceded that Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao has the speed and "looks very fast" but insists that he can "overcome that because I have more experience."

In an exclusive interview with Viva Sports, Philippines, the former WBC super featherweight champion noted that he enjoyed a height advantage over Pacquiao but was cautious about whether this will turn into a plus in the ring. Morales said "I can't tell whether my height will be an advantage until I get into the ring." However, the most popular Mexican fighter said his "determination" and the fact that he possesses "the biggest heart" will turn the tide in his favor on March 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Morales said he agreed to fight Pacquiao instead of taking on an easier opponent after his loss to Marco Antonio Barrera because "I want to fight the best and Pacquiao is one of the best." In fact, Morales said that although he was a Mexican like WBA/IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez who pulled off a controversial draw against Pacquiao last May despite being dropped three times in the very first round, he thought "Pacquiao won over Marquez."

Top Rank's Bob Arum who put the fight together with international promoter Murad Muhammad said the Morales-Pacquiao showdown was a "much better fight" than the planned rematch with Marquez because Morales was "the most popular Mexican fighter and there are two million Filipinos living in the US who support Pacquiao" underscoring the fact that this "fantastic event" should bring in huge pay-per-view numbers and a jam-packed MGM Grand.

Arum said "this is a great way to start off the year. The one thing boxing needs is great fights and this fight between Erik and Manny, everybody knows this will be a great fight and will be a tribute to the sport of boxing." Arum said Morales and Pacquiao "know ine thing and that is when the bell rings, they will come out to fight. They will bring it on. They will give everything they have and they will entertain the fans throughout the world giving a great performance and providing tremendous excitement."

A spokesman for the MGM Grand praised Arum and international promoter Murad Muhammad for joining hands to give fans what may well be the fight of the year. He said "Murad comes in and does something great and then we don't see him for a year or two. Then he comes back even stronger. He's amazing. He's a survivor." Referring to the March 19 main event, the spokesman said "this is a helluva way to start the year. Put the gloves on, ring the bell and hold on to your chair."

Meantime, Pacquiao's wife Jinkee and their eldest son Emmanuel Jr are scheduled to leave aboard a Philippine Airlines flight for Los Angeles tonight at the request of Pacquiao. Jinkee told Viva Sports/Manila Standard that she would return to Manila on February 5 and then leave again for the US about a week before the Morales fight.

MORALES REVEALED A WOMAN CAUSED HIS DOWNFALL; VOWS NOT TO COMMIT SAME MISTAKE AGAINST PACQUIAO

By Salven L. Lagumbay mannypacquiao.ph January 18, 2005

Admitting for the first time that his most recent loss to Marco Antonio was due to his liaison with a woman, legendary Mexican warrior Erik Morales yesterday vowed not to commit the same mistake when he takes on Filipino ring hero Manny Pacquiao when they trade leathers on March 19 at the MGM Grand Garden and Casino in Las Vegas.

Morales, speaking to the Mexican press, admitted that one week of passion with a woman had cost him to lose concentration while training for his rubbermatch with Barrera, which eventually led to his heart-breaking loss to Barrera last November.

"It's all about training hard. Get good people around you. Get ready to fight, study the fight, know what you're going up against and then you go at it," Morales said in an interview with Darren Nichols of **********.

Morales has also welcomed the fact that for the first time in his 12 years as a prizefighter, he has not been installed as the favorite against Pacquiao, indicating that it takes so much pressure off him.

"I will not have to worry about Pacquiao, a boxer who is prepared to win and someone who has already gained the confidence of the big television networks through his performance," Morales added.

When asked what he plans next after the fight with Pacquiao, Morales said, "We're going to try and surprise some people. Get this fight over and talk about what we want to do next."

Morales is guaranteed $2.5 million to face Pacquiao, while the Filipino ring idol will get $1.75 Million. Both fighters will also earn from pay-per-view uptake, according to sources.

Wild Card Gym to Hold Private Sessions for Pacquiao

By Winchell Campos mannypacquiao.ph January 18, 2005

LOS ANGELES-Wherever he goes, droves of fans not necessarily of Filipino descent try to catch a piece of one of the most exciting fighters in the world-Manny Pacquiao.

Whether he is dining out or training hard in the gym, fans come in droves trying to ask for his autograph or take a snapshot at the "Pacman" with cameras and cellular phones. And Pacquiao, the "People's Champion," feeds off from the attention.

Monday afternoon, Pacquiao did five rounds with the mitts and had some weight training trying to add up some extra muscle because he is moving up in weight to face super-featherweight ex-champion and Mexican legend Erik Morales. Fight night is set on March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

With the trickle of fans getting bigger each passing day, Wild Card Gym owner and Pacquiao's chief trainer Freddie Roach asked for some consideration from fans and supporters and allow him and Pacquiao to train privately from Monday to Friday.

As a concession, Roach and Pacquiao conceded to give fans their field day every Saturday where they can interact, pose for photos and ask for autographs.

"That is just fair. Manny needs to get into shape without getting distracted," said Rev. Fr. Marlon of the Order of Recollects, one of the many who watched Pacquiao Monday.

Space at the Wild Card gym is limited and fan activity could also eat up training space to the other boxers who call this gym "home."

Like in his previous pre-fight preparations, Pacquiao's presence has attracted a record-number of viewing fans never seen here, forcing Roach to make some crowd-control measures.

"This is one of the biggest fights for Manny and one of the most important. We want him to be in the best shape of his career," said Roach.

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Pacquiao was irked by some reports that he has gone missing, saying he is in command of the situation.

Pacquiao traveled to San Francisco Saturday to meet with a member of his team and iron out some important matters. He took the day off last Saturday with the blessing of Roach and some other members of his team and family.

Pacquiao is also set to go to Mexico City tomorrow to promote his fight pending the approval of their Mexican visas.

Exclusive Interview: Manny Pacquiao

Video Interview By Darren Nichols
Transcribed By Jose "OnFire" Aguirre
January 18, 2005

Darren Nichols: We got Manny Pacquiao with **********.com. manny why take on such a tough fighter as Erik Morales as your first fight at junior lightweight?

Manny Pacquiao:"Because I'm motivated to fight the best in the 130 division."

DN: Your last fight was in Manila and you had fourty thousand people there. Here if the seats sold out you'll be fighting in front of fourteen thousand. How is that for you fighting from fourty thousand to fourteen thousand people?

MP: "Fourteen thousand people showed because that was all the tickets they could sell. But there are millions of people watching on PPV."

DN: Fighting live, is it different fighting in front of fourty thousand as it is fighting in front of fourteen thousand?

MP: "No it's not differen for me because we're only two in the ring."

DN: From this point on are you a junior lightweight or will you go back to featherweight?

MP: "Depends who my opponent is. If it's featherweight or junior lightweight I can move at 130 pounds or even go back to 126 pounds."

DN: Where do you see the biggest challenge in fighting Erik Morales?

MP: "Big challenge. He has alot of fans. Supporters. There are alot of Mexican people who will watch the fights."

DN: After this is there a fighter that you would like to face next? Would you like a Marquez rematch, Barrera rematch or someone else?

MP: "Not yet. We will finish this fight and then we can talk about the next fight."

DN: Manny there have been some talks about a big robbery between Mexican's and Philipino's. Do you feel that as you get ready to fight Erik Morales?

MP: "I don't think so. Mexican's and Philipino's are friends. They're friends."

DN: Have you met Erik Morales before?

MP: "No this is the first time."

DN: Are you excited about this fight?

MP: "I'm very, very excited. This is a good fight and it's my pleasure to fight a great fighter."

DN: What should people expct from this fight when they come to see you?

MP: "Good fight and alot of action."

DN: Do you have a prediction?

MP: "No I don't want to predict this fight because Morales is a great boxer too. Great warrior."

Burp :D ...mama, water please.:)

MANNY PACQUIAO is now in Mexico City to promote his March 19 face-off with Erik Morales at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

http://www.talkingboxing.com/photos/pacquiao_large.jpg

"He left this morning (Tuesday night in Los Angeles)," said Pacquiao’s business manager, Rod Nazario, who is in Manila. "He will be there for just one day to promote the fight."

Pacquiao was joined in the three-and-a-half hour trip by trainer Freddie Roach and training assistant Buboy Fernandez. Pacquiao is expected to be back in Hollywood on Wednesday night (Thursday morning in Manila) just in time to fetch wife Jinkee and son Emmanuel Jr. at LAX the next day.

Jinkee and Emmanuel Jr. are flying to Los Angeles at 10 p.m. tonight via Philippine Airlines. They are expected to return to Manila on Feb. 5.

"Isang araw lang siya sa Mexico para lang i-promote ang laban nila ni Morales," said Jinkee.

Top Rank and M&M Sports arranged the trip to Mexico as part of their publicity campaign for the scheduled 12-round superfeatherweight clash on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Pacquiao is expected to be jeered during his public appearance there since he has gained some sort of notoriety for being the conqueror of Mexican fighters, the most famous being the revered Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pacquiao’s other Mexican victims include Gabriel Mira and Emmanuel Lucero. Last year, he almost bludgeoned World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation (IBF) feather ruler Juan Manuel Marquez, who went down thrice in the first round but miraculously survived.

Mira went down when he tried to wrest Pacquiao’s World Boxing Council flyweight title in Manila in April 1999, while Lucero was stopped in three rounds when he dared to take the GenSan lefty’s IBF super-bantam belt in July 2003 in Los Angeles.

Men among Boys: Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales set to RumbleIsaac Barrio - 1/20/2005

No monetary contract disputes. No promoters flapping their yaps. Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales promise pure boxing fury.

In a day and age in which fighters hide behind the protective skirts of their promoters, Pacquiao and Morales separate themselves in a quest for boxing immortality. Pacquiao and Morales is a cut above the rest because we have two fighters of great magnitude and skill coming together after a short time period of negotiation. Pacquiao and Morales bucked the system and tore through the red tape in making this bout, and for that they need to be applauded.

The bout itself promises to be the early runner for fight of the year…hell make that fight of the century.

In Pacquiao and Morales, we have two furious fighters in their prime. Neither one will back down and succumb to the will of the other. Pacquiao is on a tear through the weight divisions and is taking on anyone brave enough to step into the ring.

In my eyes, Pacquiao successfully defeated Juan Manuel Marquez in a rematch that never actually took place inside the ring. Why? Because based on their first bout, Juan Manuel Marquez did not have the huevos (BALLS) to negotiate a rematch…and to me that constitutes Defeat.

Unlike Marquez, Morales put aside childish demands in order to make this fight. Morales is coming off another controversial defeat to archrival Marco Antonio Barrera, a fight in which he showed tremendous heart. Morales made such an amazing comeback against Barrera that it is easy to argue that Morales won. True to his warrior past, Morales did not sit around feeling sorry for himself. Opportunity for greatness knocked and Morales answered by making this bout with Pacquiao a reality.

So who wins this bout of the Century?

What we have been waiting for. Who will win this fight? Your answer is as good as mine. We don't and won't know until the fight actually is complete. It can go either way... a pick type of fight. What I do know is that there is no shame in losing to Manny Pacquiao or Erik Morales. Both are great warriors and both will leave everything they have in the ring. There will be no holding back with these two. I once said that Pacquiao must bring his "A Game" if he fought Erik Morales, well the same goes for Morales. Morales must be on his "A Game" from the onset of the bout with Pacquiao. What I do predict is that it will be a great fight and just maybe it will be their first bout in yet another great boxing trilogy.

Hahaha..this clown journalist is what I call a balimbing.In his previous article, he called EM, the Grand Master of the sweet science and that pac must bring his A game against EM in order not to have a long night. He insinuated in this article that EM could have won against MAB and showed his true color. Wait, he is saying now that EM must bring his A game against pac? Will he call pac a GM of the sweet science next? how the wind can change in a short span of time.

I like what he said though, when he said that JMM has no huevos to fight pac again. hahahaha!!!! I hope nacho is listening. :D

flip flaps i think that's what in today, you will see a lot more guys doing this when PAC BEATS EM ...

Morales-Pacquiao Update
Teddy Molina
15Rounds.com

Part one of a series of Weekly Updates from both fighters camps, including exclusive training footage.
In two months, Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales will square-off in one of the most anticipated fights this year. But with each passing day it is clear, Manny The "Destroyer" Pacquiao becomes that much more dangerous!

According to Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao is ahead of schedule. And from the look of things, I must agree. While Roach attended to Brian Viloria with the mitts, Pacquiao began dancing around the ring stretching and loosening up.

When it was Manny’s turn at the mitts, you couldn’t help but stare. In fact, most of the gym’s inhabitants found themselves, at one point, staring.

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t ‘poetry in motion.’ But it WAS amazing!

With each punch came a loud grunt, complimented beautifully by what sounded like a .22 rifle.

Roach: One Two

Pacquiao: ahh tahh!

Roach calls a combination, and Pacquiao responds, “ahh tahh tahh” dips under a hook and, “tahhhhh!”

This was powerful stuff!

Even after years together, Manny Pacquiao is still not immune to the occasional impromptu lecture from Roach. They both clinch in the center of the ring. Roach pauses a second to direct his pupil. Pacquiao, confident that he understands, nods his head.

“He is so smart!” Pacquiao later tells me. “If I do not understand something, he will explain carefully.”

The Philippine native says Erik Morales is dangerous, so it’s important to fight him smart. “I will not underestimate his power,” he says, “And I will not get too confident with my power.”

While he will love nothing more than to knock Morales out, Pacquiao will prepare immensely for a 12 round war.

“Manny has the power to hurt Morales, but our strategy is built for the long-term.” Roach said, “We want to take the fight directly to him, and if Manny lands a good shot, I’m positive he could knock him out.”

After years of hard work, it is really starting to pay-off for Pacquiao. He has crossed the Pacific in grand fashion, and has not only made an impact in the U.S., but he has also made his presence felt in Mexico as well, where on Wednesday he addressed the media in Spanish; thanking them for their hospitality, and promising a great fight against Tijuana’s Erik “El Terrible” Morales.

Morales is not worried about Pacquiao’s power, or even losing to the Filipino. “Taking into consideration the great fighters that he has knocked-out; I lose nothing by facing Pacquiao.” Morales said, “He is a true champion who has beaten some of best fighters in the world. And to face a great fighter, serves only as a benefit.”

“I lost more by facing Barrera with nothing to gain … only to relive my f*****g death.” Morales said, “This fight will be different. Now that I’m facing a real champion, you will see an intelligent fight.”

“I lost more by facing Barrera with nothing to gain … only to relive my f*****g death.” Morales said, “This fight will be different. Now that I’m facing a real champion, you will see an intelligent fight.”

does this mean EM will box ???

It would be to Erik's advantage if he boxes. If he decides to mix it up inside, he's gonna receive the best Manny can give.

It would be to Erik's advantage if he boxes. If he decides to mix it up inside, he's gonna receive the best Manny can give.
i hope he mixes it up early so manny can beat him up big time...