Pacquiao Won't Take Chances With Morales

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The two leading members of Team Pacquiao, manager Shelly Finkel and celebrated trainer Freddie Roach said yesterday that Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao won't take any chances in his preparation for the November 18 third encounter with legendary Mexican Erik "El Terrible" Morales in Las Vegas.

Finkel told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, hours before his departure, that Pacquiao would be in Los Angeles at least two months before the fight and that he was dead serious in being at his best for Morales. Finkel said Pacquiao had promised him that.

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Roach who leaves today said Pacquiao "didn't do well in the first six rounds"of his fight against former two-time super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios but "turned up after that. I think he was playing around a little bit in the first six rounds. In the sixth round he started fighting well." Pacquiao won a lopsided twelve round decision after
dropping Larios in the seventh and twelfth rounds and beating him up the rest of the way.

Roach agreed with WBC founding secretary general Rudy Salud that Pacquiao is a much better fighter today than at anytime in his career and said "he is now starting to put the combinations together."

Roach made it clear that Pacquiao "needs to be a lot better for Morales and we will get rid of all the other distractions." He indicated his displeasure at the number of hangers-on crowding around Pacquiao and the unknowns who jumped into the ring even before the fight. "Its crazy" said Roach.

There were many who believed that Pacquiao, despite the warnings of Roach, Finkel and Ring Magazine edito-rin-chief Nigel Collins who said Larios was a legitimate challenger and shouldn't be taken lightly, was convinced he could beat the Mexican handily and crammed his training into just five weeks which eventually prevented him from knocking out Larios, a superbly-conditioned fighter.

Roach has indicated he dislikes Morales who he said talks badly about Pacquiao and the Filipino people and wants Pacquiao to knock him out again and shut his mouth. But Roach as well as Finkel and Pacquiao himself know that to beat Morales again, the Filipino southpaw would have tp train hard for at least six weeks and stay away from the long hours and late nights playing pool, shooting commercials and guesting on television shows.

Clearly, both men have agreed that Pacquiao should enjoy the fruits of his victory over Larios, receive the awards being handed out and accept the accolades of his millions of fans but after a short break spending quality time with his wife who is heavy with child and his two sons, Pacquiao should slowly get back into shape and follow the oft-repeated maxim of a great fighter like Benard Hopkins who believes that fighters should stay in shape, not get in shape.

Comments

AllEyesOpenMon Jul 3, 2006, 2:44 PM UTC

Not everyone is that ignorant, I have alot of respect for both fighters, & i wouldn't be suprised if either of them wins, but whoever wins it'll be because they're the better fighter.

joeytrimbleMon Jul 3, 2006, 2:31 PM UTC

i love this argument.... if pacquio wins morales fans will say its because morales opted to slug instead of box and if morales wins pacquio fans will act like it never happened ...ever i dont know which is worst

SuckaPunchMon Jul 3, 2006, 2:28 PM UTC

AllEyesOpenMon Jul 3, 2006, 2:06 PM UTC

I agree, I just hope Morales comes into the fight to outbox Pacquiao and not engage in battle. I think morales always plans to box, but those plans go out the window when he get's a hard shot, he just has to get you back. Morales could beat him again, he just needs to train hard & do what he did the first time around, but my rule is "Never bet against Pacman"

King_KoyleMon Jul 3, 2006, 1:59 PM UTC

erik "the boxer who outboxes pac" is the thing of the past. manny has clearly added alot of weapons in his arsenal like a very fast counterpunch and a stingy right hook. no matter what erik does, manny will surely have an answer. keep on dreaming mexicans! your boyfriend erik "el horible" moral-less is the biggest chicken **** of all time. and pac will make erik regret not to have an early retirement plan for himself. ;) First off,im not mexican.Read the name genius!Secondly your an idiot who should write for the WWE.Early retirement plan,plastic surgery!I feel like im listening to a pro wrestling interview.Erik beat Pac the first time.Something that mysteriously erased from most Pac fans minds after the KO.It's not completely out of question that Erik can do it.Yes,we are nuthuggers,but so are you.And one of the worst kinds.Do you really think that Morales is the biggest chickenshit of all time?If so,than you just lost creditablity with Morales and Pac fans alike.But keep talking!It's entertaining. :D

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