By Rick Reeno
The Philippine Star reported on Monday that Erik Morales would be coming out of retirement to stage a January 2008 rematch with WBC lightweight champion David Diaz.
Hermie Esguerra, a close friend and associate of Morales, told the paper that Morales would not attend the Oct. 6 rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera, because he would be in camp training for a January bout with Diaz.
Diaz’s promoter Dominic Pesoli, president of 8 Count Productions, indicated to BoxingScene.com that Diaz has no plans to fight Morales in January, or any date for that matter.
"This is the first I’ve heard of this. Morales does want a rematch with David. David does not want to fight him, but he would be willing to fight him again if the money is right. He is certainly not going to fight Morales for the same kind of money as last time,” Pesoli said. “There have not been any talks on a rematch. Nobody has spoken to me. David would fight him again, but only if the money is right. There is no January rematch and no talks have been held to put one together.”
