World lightweight champ predicts Pacquiao victory

World lightweight champ predicts Pacquiao victory By Abac Cordero The Philippine Star 10/03/2006 World Boxing Council lightweight champion Diego Corrales, whose mother is Mexican, is rooting for Manny Pacquiao. The 29-year-old Corrales said he believes that Pacquiao has everything it takes to beat Erik Morales when the two great super featherweights collide in November for the third and last time. "I think Manny Pacquiao will close the show once and for all," said Corrales, who is scheduled to stake his world lightweight crown against Joel Casamayor at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas this Sunday. Corrales made the comments during a recent interview with **********.com. Pacquiao dropped a unanimous decision to Morales in their first meeting in March of 2005 then bounced back with a sensational 10th round knockout of the Mexican sensation last January. Morales, a former three-time world champion, has never been knocked out in his career until that cold, damp night in Las Vegas where Pacquiao was busy throwing punches from start to finish. The third meeting is scheduled Nov. 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. This early, Morales is being hounded with the same weight problems he encountered prior to the second match. "I don’t think Erik will rise to the occasion again," added Corrales who has a very colorful past. Nicknamed Chico, he was raised in Sacramento where he was reportedly involved with street gangs. Pacquiao, who’s been training for two weeks now at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, hasn’t been spared with distractions concerning a recent seven-fight promotional contract he signed with Oscar dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. But to his legions of fans, the flamboyant 27-year-old slugger from Gen. Santos City is the overwhelming favorite in the coming match that could line him up toward a crack at Marco Antonio Barrera’s world title in the 130 lb division. According to an on-line poll at mannypacquiao.com, the left-handed knockout artist is an 82.7 percent favorite to win by knockout, and a 6.1 favorite to win via a decision — majority or otherwise. Only 5.8 percent of 7,684 votes cast as of yesterday believe that Morales has a chance to win by knockout, and just 4.0 percent for him to win by decision. A tiny 1.4 percent called it a draw.