Pacquiao-Morales rematch done deal

Click me bitches LOS ANGELES - Manny Pacquiao doesn’t have to shut the daylights out of Mexican Hector Velazquez next month to seal the megabuck rematch with Erik Morales sometime in January of next year. Lawyer Nick Khan, one of Pacquiao’s American handlers, said the second meeting with Morales is a done deal and that even if Pacquiao and Velazquez battle to a draw on Sept. 10 at the Staples Center, the rematch with Morales will go on as planned in Las Vegas. "He doesn’t have to win against Velazquez," Khan said, but he believes Pacquiao will go for a sensational win to prove he deserves a rematch. Morales beat Pacquiao via unanimous decision last March 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. "Even if the fight ends in a draw, the rematch will push through," added Khan, who co-manages the Filipino lefty with fellow counsel Keith Davidson and Shelly Finkel. Pacquiao, who began scaling Griffith Park on Friday morning, said he is looking no less than a smashing win against Velazquez, the 30-year-old Tijuana native who has vowed to score an upset before a huge crowd at the 20,000-seat Staples Center. "I won’t settle for an ordinary win. Even if I am told that the rematch with Morales is a done deal, I won’t let my guard down. My main concern is how to win convincingly," said Pacquiao, who was driven to the city of San Pedro after training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in mid-afternoon. Pacquiao shelled out 5 for the blood test. He was assisted in the paperwork at the San Pedro Medical Center by his interpreter Joe Ramos and US-based sports scribe Winchell Campos. After the sidetrip to San Pedro, Pacquiao had an early dinner at a Filipino restaurant on Vermont St., went on to purchase a laptop computer at Circuit City and bought some sports stuff at Big 5 as he is scheduled to shoot hoops with friends on Saturday morning after his early morning roadwork at the Pan Pacific Park. Pacquiao will then head back to the Wild Card shortly after lunch for his second day of sparring session against Israel Vazquez, the Mexican who stood his ground when the two sparred on Thursday. Justin Fortune, the Australian conditioning coach who has taken over the training of Pacquiao in the absence of Roach, has warned Pacquiao about taking Velazquez lightly. "This guy will come into the fight in excellent condition and he should be very motivated," said Fortune. Roach is expected to be back on Monday as he is coming from attending a personal matter in Canada. Roach said before leaving last Thursday that Pacquiao will probably spar "close to 100 rounds" for Velazquez, who is a huge underdog. Other sparmates being eyed are Armando Sta. Cruz and Jason Litzau, an unbeaten knockout prospect from Minnesota. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think the outcome will change. I think Morales just has Pac's number.