PHILIPPINE news

July 14, 2006 Friday

Manny Pacquiao vs Eric Morales III is now Official

The much-awaited rubber match between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales will push through on Nov. 18, 2006 with the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas as venue, Top rank big boss Bob Arum has officially announced.

"Erik is very determined and he is eager to take on Pacquiao for a third time," said Arum in a statement released on Wednesday (Thursday in the Philippines). "These two great champions have always given it their all, each and every second in the ring, especially against each other. I expect this third fight to be the most exciting of the trilogy — and that’s saying something."

The fight is going ahead regardless of claims by some quarters that the bout could not possibly be held at 130 lbs, the weight class specified in the contract, because it was impossible for Morales to make that limit as he has grown big and heavy.

Rafael Mendoza, the agent of recent Pacquiao versus Oscar Larios, when asked about Pacquiao-Morales III said, "You have to cut off his two legs."

Mendoza said that he can guarantee that Morales can never have a weight of 130 lbs. and he might die doing it and he will be too weak as well.

Morales has started the first phase of his preparation for the third fight as he is set to undergo tests under weight reduction experts in Los Angeles before heading for training proper. Morales plans to train in his hometown of Tijuana in preparation for eight weeks of extreme workouts at the Otomi Mountains, the high-altitude training center for Mexico’s top fighters.

Pacquiao, will begin training in August in Baguio City, who is fresh from a stimulating 12-round decision win over Larios, but should be at the doorsteps of Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in September.

Lightweight challenger Randy Suico competing for the World Boxing Association 135-lb throne of Mexican-American Juan Diaz, Pacquiao will be there to show his support and will fly to U.S. 10 p.m. thru Philippine Airlines. This will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).

Pacquiao will be accompanied in the trip by confidant Wakee Salud and Los Angeles-based adviser Joe Ramos. It could not be determined when they are expected to return since Pacquiao is planning on taking part in a big-time poker tournament in Las Vegas from July 24 to 26.