By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WORLD Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman predicted that legendary Mexican Erik “El Terrible” Morales will triumph over Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao in their rubber match at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 18.
A Spanish-language newspaper reported that Sulaiman made the statement at a news conference in a restaurant south of Mexico City to promote the first national Muay Thai Championship.
Sulaiman spoke about the rematch between WBC super feattherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera and Rocky Juarez and the junior featherweight title fight between champion Israel Vasquez and Jhonny Gonzalez on Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day.
He also mentioned the Pacquiao-Morales battle for the WBC International super featherweight title in the paradise of the bets—in obvious reference to Las Vegas.
Sulaiman said that in their rematch, Morales “lost the hunger and when that happens the passion is lost. But Morales is a fighter with pride and he accepted this fight [against Pacquiao] because he knows he can defeat the Filipino in their third and final fight.”
The WBC president emphasized that the preparations by the three-time world champion in different divisions using specialists to reduce weight in a Los Angeles facility will ensure that Morales will be strong when he meets Pacquiao.
Sulaiman paid tribute to Pacquiao as a great champion.
“But without doubt, and with the preparation carried out by Morales, it will be a triumph for Mexican boxing,” said Sulaiman.
