Pacquiao To Fight Morales, Not Marquez

Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao will fight Erik "El Terrible" Morales, the former WBC super featherweight champion instead of WBA/IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez in a scheduled rematch on February 26 following their controversial draw last May in which Pacquiao decked Marquez three times in the opening round but couldn't put him away. A Japanese website earlier reported that the announcement of the fight had been made by Top Rank. The Pacquiao-Morales showdown which was intially set for sometime in July will now be held on March 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a blockbuster pay-per-view fight card titled Bring It On. The official announcement will be made at a press conference scheduled for Wednesday, January 12 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel opposite Rodeo Drive along Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Both Morales who lost a fight for the ages in his third encounter with Marco Antonio Barrera last November 27 and Pacquiao who scored a devastating eleventh round TKO victory over Barrera in San Antonio, Texas on November 15, 2003 will be present along with international promoter Murad Muhammad and Top Rank's Bob Arum. Murad and Arum had been meeting since last week in Las Vegas in an effort to finalize the scheduled rematch with Marquez but the apparent demand by Marquez and his trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain that he be paid $1.5 million while Pacquiao was slated to receive $900,000 turned off both Murad and Arum. Although efforts by Viva Sports/Manila Standard to contact Murad in order to confirm the deal proved futile, Viva Sports believed that the many days spent by Murad at the MGM Grand during which he had several meetings with Arum pointed to the fact that they were hammering out a Pacquiao-Morales agreement instead. Arum handles both Marquez and Morales and indications are that Marquez will push through with the February 26 date but against another opponent, not Pacquiao. Viva Sports/Manila Standard learned last Wednesday that Arum had picked up Murad for a meeting and that they had spoken to HBO, the major sports network that will telecast what is expected to be the biggest fight this year. Murad had earlier confirmed that Z "The Dream" Gorres would "definitely fight a world-rated boxer on the undercard" although he didn't reveal that it was on March 19 and that it was on the Pacquiao - Morales fight card. When Pacquiao left for Los Angeles last Saturday he inquired whether the fight against Marquez had been finalized but we were informed by Murad to tell both Pacquiao and his business manager Rod Nazario "not to worry" that there will be a fight. In the addendum signed by Pacquiao for the two fights specified under the March 1, 2004 four fight contract between Pacquiao, Nazario and Murad, the flamboyant Filipino southpaw was to get $900,000 for the rematch with Morales or an opponent acceptable to HBO which was putting out a big amount of money and $1.75 million for the clash with Morales. Pacquiao was unaware he would be fighting Morales when he departed for LA last Saturday aboard a Philippine Airlines flight but said "I am willing to fight Morales because he is not such a tough opponent. Pac-Man is ready to fight anybody because I have no fear. Trainer Freddie Roach in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard on Sunday said "Morales is easier style-wise because he's hittable and stays in front of you unlike Marquez who moves and counter-punches effectively." Roach said Marquez "is harder to hit because he won't engage" adding that in his view Morales "is a smarter fight to take" than Marquez. Roach said that if the Morales fight pushes through it sounds good. It will be a great fight although he admitted Morales poses some problems. He's a little bigger and is 130 pounds. The March 19 date would be a blessing for Pacquiao who had not trained since the December 11 fight against Fahsan 3K Battery and had a stretch of late nights and good times, because it would give Roach and extra three weeks to get him into top shape. Roach said despite his fun, he'll be okay. Morales who stands 5'8 will have a two inch height advantage over the 5'6 Pacquiao and is also two years older at 28 to Pacquiao's 26. Morales has a record of 47-2 with 34 knockouts while Pacquiao has a record of 39-2-2 with 31 KO's. Should Pacquiao win over Morales it is almost certain that he will have a rematch with Barrera and if Marquez remains champion eventually face the third Mexican who will be the last man standing among the big three. Link I guess it's JMM's lost. He's left with no money and a no-name opponent. JMM needs Pac more than Pac needs him. As I said on my other post, I would love a Morales-Pacquiao bout, but I can say the same with Pacquiao-Marquez. And of course of my schedule. But I do think that Morales' style suit Pac's style better than Marq. So this may be a war. I know Morales is bigger but remember that even he cannot take down Barrera, I don't think we have to worry too much.