by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Taking the cue from Zahir Raheem who completely bewildered Erik “El Terrible” Morales and handed the legendary Mexican an embarrassing defeat last September 11, 2003 “Trainer of the Year” Freddie Roach indicated yesterday that Manny Pacquiao will do the same thing.

In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Roach said that Morales “can be out-boxed easy” and that the game-plan was for the Filipino southpaw to use “head movement, feint, box and use foot speed” to whip Morales in their hugely anticipated rematch at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday.

Morales won their first epic encounter by a unanimous decision at the jam-packed MGM Grand Garden Arena last March 19 but came back with a smashing sixth round demolition of tough Mexican journeyman Hector Velazquez on the same card where Morales lost to Raheem after having problems making the weight.

Roach admitted that both he and Pacquiao made a mistake in the first fight. He said “we used the wrong strategy. We didn’t fight well last time. You just cant walk in and try to knock this guy out like we did the last time” making it clear that this time around in a fight billed as “The Battle” Pacquiao “is going to box this guy and use his boxing skills.”

Despite concerns that the bigger Morales would have problems making the 130 pound limit Roach said he believes that Morales will make the weight in order to save himself a lot of money. Roach said that because they were “afraid Morales wouldn’t make the weight” they inserted a clause in the contract which requires him to pay Pacquiao $250,000 for every pound over the limit.

After a workout at the neat and comfortable IBA Gym not far from the famous Las Vegas Strip where he hammered the punch-mitts viciously as media had another field day, Roach told Viva Sports “everything is great. Manny is really after this one. He is mentally very prepared for this fight. Mentally also. Without a doubt he is in better shape for this one than the first. More mentally I think.”

Roach revealed that his decision to keep fans and hangers-on out of the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles when Pacquiao worked out was “definitely a big change and great for Manny.”

Reacting to reports that Pacquiao had injured his arm and worked out with a taped forearm Roach said he merely “hyper-extended his elbow last week when he missed a punch. Its not a problem at all.”