By: James Blears
Manny Pacquiao showed as much class outside the ring as in it, during his visit to Mexico to promote his upcoming March 19th fight against Erik Morales. Manny’s message to his esteemed rival is: "Good luck Erik. See you on March 19th."
Manny who stopped Marco Antonio Barrera, and drew with Juan Manuel Marquez after sensationally decking him thrice in round one, classifies this clash with Erik as the defining fight of his career. He said:
"This is so very important for me, because it’s for the honor of my country, my family, and I know Erik Morales is a very good boxer."
Erik is the third Mexican to recently cross Manny’s path. But Manny added dignity to class, deliberately avoiding hype, stressing: "I’m not going to say I’m going to knock Erik out. But I’m going to try my very best, show the benefits of my homework and good skill up in the ring. I want everybody to love this fight.
"My analysis of Erik Morales is that he’s a good boxer, but not like before. He’s a little bit slower, but he’s got power too. I’ve studied his style, and I know what I’m going to do."
And talking of power, Manny described his thunderbolt left in these terms:
"You know, my power comes from God. He gave this to me, so I’m taking care of it."
Manny is unconcerned about fighting in the super featherweight division for the first time, saying for him it’s virtually like being a featherweight and it’s now his regular weight. But the focus on triumphing is a heavier issue altogether, as he explained:
"Winning this fight is my way to be known as a great warrior throughout the world, especially with the Mexican people and the people in the United States."
Manny’s astute trainer Freddie Roach is counting on the retaliation factor from Erik, namely that when he gets tagged, he’ll come back firing and that when Manny can really go to work. He said:
"Definitely. When Erik gets hit…and he will…he’ll forget about his game plan and fight back. You can’t take away someone’s natural instincts, whereas Marquez is more of a boxer counter puncher. Once Erik gets tagged, the fight’s on, and that will be his mistake…yes! And if he doesn’t want to, and tries to box, then we’ll put him on the ropes and make him fight us!
"The key to this fight will be SPEED, SPEED, SPEED. You can’t beat it, you can’t teach it, and Manny has it and that’s our advantage in this fight I believe.
Freddie also clarified why Manny put Marquez down three times, but did not finish him there and then. He explained:
"Not too many people know this, but Manny had a slight fracture in his left hand after the first round. He also had trouble with blisters on his feet because he wore cheap socks. He’s got some better ones now. But no excuses, Marquez made a great comeback.
"Concerning Erik, we’ll be in shape to go twelve hard rounds if we need to. If the knockout comes it’s a bonus."
Top Rank President Todd DuBoef described Erik as a legend in Mexico and America, quantified his massive drawing power thus:
"Erik’s last fight with Barrera did three times the amount of buys as the heavyweight champion of the world Vitali Klitschko and Danny Williams. The fight before that, against Carlos Hernandez in the unification bout, did one and a half times more. So the message is that Erik is really the heavyweight of the world as regards an attraction."
As long ago as last October Erik told BoxingScene.com that the fight he really wanted was not Marco Antonio Barrera, but the man who’d stopped Marco, namely …Manny Pacquiao.
He voiced his pleasure that the fight’s now on and immediately praised Manny as a great fighter. He also said: "I know who I am, and what I can do in the ring and I’m going to prepare well for a truly great fight. I’m starting my altitude training at the Otomi Center on Monday. I’m not scared, I’m going to be ready and I’m going to win!"
Erik was very nearly involved in a mega bust up with one of Boxing’s Giants- WBC President Jose Sulaiman, who was with him at top table. Don Jose initially saw red, when Erik suggested he was considering other verdant pastures.
Don Jose recalled: "He said he would contemplate the different championship opportunities that he would have after the fight. And that’s what made me a little sad, because I’ve been 100 percent for him. But he explained and clarified to me that he did not mean to say that he was going to go against the WBC. For me it was a misunderstanding on my side."
