By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao’s new promoter Gary Shaw has claimed that they are actually “doing them a favor” by fighting Erik “El Terrible” Morales in a rematch on January 21 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
In a television interview with Viva Sports Shaw said that Pacquiao won his last fight against Hector Velazquez but Morales lost to Zahir Raheem and “they came running to me and said the fights on, right?. You are still going to fight Erik.” The rematch had been agreed upon prior to “Double Trouble” last September 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and there were those who thought that because Morales was beaten the fight would not push through.
Shaw said “Manny could have fought or not fought Erik. Both men are giving each other the opportunity.”
Shaw was also upset over claims by the Morales camp that Pacquiao and his handlers were constantly making excuses for his loss to the legendary Mexican last March 19. Shaw said the distractions caused by a bitter conflict with former promoter Murad Muhammad, the issue of the gloves and other distractions hurt Pacquiao. He insisted “they are not excuses. Its reality. I think Team Morales doesn’t want to face reality.”
Shaw said the gloves was a key issue because “that’s what they combat with..” He said “if Morales things they are excuses talk to him on January 21 after the fight and see if it was an excuse.” Shaw said that on January 21 fans will see the real Manny Pacquiao and “with the weight of the country (Philippines on us, we’ll deliver.”
The promoter said Pacquiao “knows what he needs to do to win. In the first fight he took Morales a little lightly. Filipinos would come to the gym and say Manny you are great. You’re the champion. I think that it went to his head but it wont this time. It will be a different story.” Shaw predicted Pacquiao will win by a knockout in the tenth round.
