By James Blears
Erik Morales is not going to run out of energy in his third and deciding fight with Manny Pacquiao, because he’s going to be in tip top shape and strong within the Super Featherweight category.
That was the message from Jorgen Persson, an Exercise Physiologist. Jorgen who’s from Velocity Sports Performance, West Los Angeles, has been appointed by Top Rank to work with El Terible at the Otomi High Altitude Training Center.
Gone are the days when Erik started his weight reduction campaign from a high point which generously exceeded the middleweight limit…and then some, until he appeared gaunt.
The Erik Morales who sauntered into Mexico City’s Melia Hotel for the WBC weigh in 30 days before the fight, registered 142 pounds, and he looked relaxed and strong.
This satisfied Jorgen who said: “Erik can loose the remaining weight gradually which is good, because he’s not going to get burned out, and he’s not going to become what in technical terms is called catabolic.
“If you don’t eat enough your body actually starts using up your muscles and you fatigue, which could have been what happened in the previous fight, where he didn’t time the gradual progression of weight loss. That is not going to happen this time!”
For his first winning fight against Manny Pacquiao, Erik trained at the Spartan Otomi High Altitude Training Center, high in the mountains perched over Toluca. He didn’t do this prior to his second clash with Manny earlier this year, because the normally cold weather there was frigid. And it cost him dear.
Erik has already been at Otomi for almost a month, and he going to stay there until a few days before Fight Three, which will be at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The decisive stoppage loss to Manny has fuelled Erik’s hunger to get back to the top and he’s been impressing the experts. Jorgen said:
“Erik is possibly the most intelligent boxer I’ve worked with. He is very dedicated. When it comes to nutrition, we can take some credit. But really, he has his food weighed every day, so he’s very dedicated to accomplishing his goals.
“He doesn’t need any baby sitting. He knows what he’s doing. He’s been a pro since he was sixteen, so we are there to assist when he needs us, but overall, he’s very capable of taking care of himself.”
WBC Executive Director Mauricio Sulaiman who was scrutinizing the weigh in, said this clash will be a battle of strategies just as much a war of willpower. He commented:
“If Erik has the ability to manage to box and counter Manny , he will be establishing his style. His jab and ring generalship will be of tremendous importance in this fight. If Manny has the ability to get Erik into a slugfest that will be to Manny’s advantage.”
Erik’s Father Jose who’s back at the helm training him confirms that they’ve already completed more than 70 percent of the preparation: “We’re working with enthusiasm and we’re going to triumph definitively against Manny Pacquiao like the first time.
“Erik has pledge with his fans, and in my opinion this is the most important fight of his life.”
Casually dressed, sporting a black shirt with a Mexican flag on the right arm, Erik was relaxed and upbeat. He said:
“Everything is going really well. We’re going at it little by little. As always it’s challenging, but we’re progressing. I’m sparring on average four or five or six rounds every day and I’m feeling really great. This will be an interesting and difficult fight due to the conditions last time, and I’m going to win.”
