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January 18, 2006
By Victor Perea
Photos: Mary Ann Owen /
Leading the way into what hopes to be a great year for fans of the sport; Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales are set to once again give viewers all $44.95 worth of their PPV money when they meet again this Saturday night inside the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
*********.com spoke with Manny today in preparation for Saturday night’s rematch with Erik Morales as he worked out inside the exclusive world class IBA Gym here in Las Vegas. Pacquiao’s speed and movement was even more impressive than what some reports from last weeks open workout at WildCard Gym in Los Angeles claimed. His movements were notably different from any other time I’ve seen him train before. The speed at which he threw some unorthodox combinations seemed reminiscent of a time when Pacquiao fought at flyweight. Yet from the looks of it, his punches seemed to have enough power to send even my heavyweight frame to the canvas.
In what many are predicting to be another fight of the year candidate, Manny Pacquiao will try to prove to the world, particularly to Erik Morales, that the Manny from their first fight was not the best of the General Santos City native. Although the statement might be cliché, if Pacquiao is right, then boxing fans better be ready for one hell of a clash in just a few short days. Given the heart of Erik Morales, his eagerness to trade punches and Pacquiao’s relentless style, Saturday night looks to be a mirror of their first encounter, only Pacquiao hopes to see a few differences.
“I’ve got to imagine its kind of hard to box a future hall of famer like Erik Morales, when you’ve got both your promoter’s hands in your pocket,” said Manny’s trainer Freddie Roach; Add to that, the fact that Pacquiao was having to share his 689 sq ft. “Penthouse” with his wife and half a dozen friends who needed a place to crash on the eve of the fight. “Regardless of Manny’s distractions during the first fight, the gloves, the rooms, the promoter and the cut; I believe Morales won the first fight. I’m not complaining about that.” added Roach
Morales on the other hand, has been an outspoken critic of what he sees as excuses following their first meeting, which was won by Unanimous Decision 115-113 on all three scorecards. In particular, Morales has said that the type of gloves used or not used made no difference in the outcome.
“It’s not a crying thing, but if Morales said it wasn’t important, then why did they put it (Winning Brand Gloves) in the contract? Why wouldn’t they let us fight with our gloves, it’s obviously a concern to them,” said Pacquiao’s manager Shelly Finkel. “We’re ready to go 12 rounds, Manny Pacquiao will be the difference this time. Not Cleto Reyes,” added Coach Freddie Roach.
“I think we both underestimated Morales the first fight. We think I beat Barrera, and Barrera beat Morales, but that is not true,” said the two-time World Champion Manny Pacquiao. “Our mistake was comparing the Barrera fight, but this time we know even with Morales losing to Raheem, it does not mean anything,” added Pacquiao.
Many critics believed that Pacquiao underestimated Morales during their first fight and now fear he may do the same facing a once again rebounding Morales.
“I don’t think I have an advantage because he is coming off a loss. I think he wants to recover his name, he wants to win this fight,” said Manny of his opponent.
When pressed about the cut he received during the 5th round of their first encounter, Manny looked to be done with it. “I could not see his left after the cut, I really could not see how far away he was,” said Pacquiao. “The cut was a headbutt, but it was accidental, but that fight is over now. Saturday is almost here now.”
An unsupported article that came out of the Philippines late last week claimed that Pacquiao had injured his left forearm. This, according to Pacquiao was false. Pacquiao silenced the rumor, saying it was one irresponsibly written story that took what he said out of context purely to gain attention. According to the team, the reporter of the said article did not verify his information and has yet to recant his report. Nonetheless, the whole of Team Pacquiao vows it has zero validity and it was never an issue and vows that it will not be an issue. Rumors like these only add fuel to Morales’ fire to prove his win over Pacquiao was no fluke.
“Morales this time, he is preparing hard, he trained hard, he’s in 100% condition mentally and physically, because he needs to recover from his last fight. So I think he will be 100% condition on Saturday,” added Manny. “This time we’re prepared for his jab and his straight. We prepared for everything… on Saturday night I will give him a fight, and I will win.”
credit to *********.com
By Victor Perea
Photos: Mary Ann Owen /
Leading the way into what hopes to be a great year for fans of the sport; Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales are set to once again give viewers all $44.95 worth of their PPV money when they meet again this Saturday night inside the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
*********.com spoke with Manny today in preparation for Saturday night’s rematch with Erik Morales as he worked out inside the exclusive world class IBA Gym here in Las Vegas. Pacquiao’s speed and movement was even more impressive than what some reports from last weeks open workout at WildCard Gym in Los Angeles claimed. His movements were notably different from any other time I’ve seen him train before. The speed at which he threw some unorthodox combinations seemed reminiscent of a time when Pacquiao fought at flyweight. Yet from the looks of it, his punches seemed to have enough power to send even my heavyweight frame to the canvas.
In what many are predicting to be another fight of the year candidate, Manny Pacquiao will try to prove to the world, particularly to Erik Morales, that the Manny from their first fight was not the best of the General Santos City native. Although the statement might be cliché, if Pacquiao is right, then boxing fans better be ready for one hell of a clash in just a few short days. Given the heart of Erik Morales, his eagerness to trade punches and Pacquiao’s relentless style, Saturday night looks to be a mirror of their first encounter, only Pacquiao hopes to see a few differences.
“I’ve got to imagine its kind of hard to box a future hall of famer like Erik Morales, when you’ve got both your promoter’s hands in your pocket,” said Manny’s trainer Freddie Roach; Add to that, the fact that Pacquiao was having to share his 689 sq ft. “Penthouse” with his wife and half a dozen friends who needed a place to crash on the eve of the fight. “Regardless of Manny’s distractions during the first fight, the gloves, the rooms, the promoter and the cut; I believe Morales won the first fight. I’m not complaining about that.” added Roach
Morales on the other hand, has been an outspoken critic of what he sees as excuses following their first meeting, which was won by Unanimous Decision 115-113 on all three scorecards. In particular, Morales has said that the type of gloves used or not used made no difference in the outcome.
“It’s not a crying thing, but if Morales said it wasn’t important, then why did they put it (Winning Brand Gloves) in the contract? Why wouldn’t they let us fight with our gloves, it’s obviously a concern to them,” said Pacquiao’s manager Shelly Finkel. “We’re ready to go 12 rounds, Manny Pacquiao will be the difference this time. Not Cleto Reyes,” added Coach Freddie Roach.
“I think we both underestimated Morales the first fight. We think I beat Barrera, and Barrera beat Morales, but that is not true,” said the two-time World Champion Manny Pacquiao. “Our mistake was comparing the Barrera fight, but this time we know even with Morales losing to Raheem, it does not mean anything,” added Pacquiao.
Many critics believed that Pacquiao underestimated Morales during their first fight and now fear he may do the same facing a once again rebounding Morales.
“I don’t think I have an advantage because he is coming off a loss. I think he wants to recover his name, he wants to win this fight,” said Manny of his opponent.
When pressed about the cut he received during the 5th round of their first encounter, Manny looked to be done with it. “I could not see his left after the cut, I really could not see how far away he was,” said Pacquiao. “The cut was a headbutt, but it was accidental, but that fight is over now. Saturday is almost here now.”
An unsupported article that came out of the Philippines late last week claimed that Pacquiao had injured his left forearm. This, according to Pacquiao was false. Pacquiao silenced the rumor, saying it was one irresponsibly written story that took what he said out of context purely to gain attention. According to the team, the reporter of the said article did not verify his information and has yet to recant his report. Nonetheless, the whole of Team Pacquiao vows it has zero validity and it was never an issue and vows that it will not be an issue. Rumors like these only add fuel to Morales’ fire to prove his win over Pacquiao was no fluke.
“Morales this time, he is preparing hard, he trained hard, he’s in 100% condition mentally and physically, because he needs to recover from his last fight. So I think he will be 100% condition on Saturday,” added Manny. “This time we’re prepared for his jab and his straight. We prepared for everything… on Saturday night I will give him a fight, and I will win.”
credit to *********.com
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