PacMan's Corner

[greenarrow]

No beauty contest for macho Morales

 

 

By Recah Trinidad

Inquirer

Last updated 03:52am (Mla time) 10/30/2006

 

Published on page A30 of the October 30, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

 

FIVE DAYS after registering 142 pounds, Erik Morales rode the scales and weighed an amazing 137 lb.

 

This was how Top Rank bossman Bob Arum related the fantastic development to broadcaster Ronnie Nathanielsz last week.

 

Arum must’ve sounded as though he had discovered a constellation of reserved strength inside Morales’ aging body.

 

“Manny Pacquiao would be in for a big surprise,” Arum was quoted as warning.

 

Maybe Arum expected Pacquiao to shudder in fear?

 

Well, if Pacquiao did not end up laughing, he must’ve brushed off Arum’s statement as another fat lie.

 

Arum did not indicate if he had personally checked Morales on the scales.

 

* * *

 

The grand old man of prizefight promotions may not be bluffing. He could, in fact, be reporting what he had witnessed.

 

But it was easier to believe that Arum, this time out, had made Morales ride a shaky, sympathetic hotel room weighing machine.

 

Yes, if Morales had instantly lost five pounds in five days, he could be in for deeper trouble. It’s like this: Morales registering 137 on an official machine must instead be a cause for worry among his backers and close supporters who know their boxing.

 

* * *

 

No. Arum couldn’t be accused of deluding himself. He definitely knows his boxing, more than Don King.

 

But wasn’t Morales progressing normally, shedding poundage carefully and gradually, under the supervision of experts?

 

At least, this was what we were made to believe before Morales moved up to the Otomi Mountains training site in Mexico from his camp in Los Angeles.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, around the same time, Pacquiao jumped onto the scales and registered 138 lb -- work shoes, shorts and shirt on.

 

Trainer Freddie Roach next claimed his prized pupil was easily 136 lb.

 

That would mean Morales was nothing more than a pound behind Pacquiao in the run-off to their Nov. 17 official weigh-in.

 

* * *

 

Now, there was every reason for Arum to be triumphant.

 

But, at the same time, he could be dangerously trapped in that mode when he had started to believe the Grand Finale would be decided on the weighing scales.

 

No kidding. This was not the first time this had been said of how fighters could also get overly assertive with their weight and figure.

 

In the process, these same fighters overlook the fact that making the weight and staying in fighting shape is not one and the same thing.

 

* * *

 

Listen, please. Arum could be perfectly happy only if Morales would be joining a beauty pageant, and not going to war, which promises to be the fiercest in his career.

 

So, did they have to punish Morales?

 

Five pounds in five days was not exactly normal, based on the announced Morales regimen.

 

Morales may indeed look great, he could breeze past the official scales, but how much of the old steady fighter would be left in his old, drained system?

 

* * *

 

To repeat, Morales won’t be joining a beauty contest.

 

Warned police superintendent Pat Piñol of North Cotabato: “Fine if it would be a beauty contest, Morales could just walk down the ramp after all the shedding and the trimming down. But it’s not. It would be a rumble in the jungle. Makikipag-bugbugan siya. Let’s see if he could survive Pacman.”

 

Supt. Piñol was right. Balance and propriety should have been the theme of the Morales regimen. No quick fix, no cutting corners, please.

 

Anyway, it was just fine for Arum to have warned Pacquiao to watch out -- Morales would be sharper, stronger.

 

But did the Top Rank big boss sincerely believe the fierce fight would be decided on a silly weight war?

 

 

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=29484

[greenarrow]

Erik to Pacman: No way to pay $1M

By Abac Cordero

The Philippine Star 11/01/2006

 

Erik Morales has vowed to tip the scales at 130 lbs, nothing more and nothing less, for his highly-anticipated showdown with Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas.

 

The 30-year-old Mexican recently told the Mexican media that he is confident that by the time the two fighters are weighed on the eve of the fight, he will be safely inside the limit.

 

Under the fight contract, Morales should pay Pacquiao $500,000 if the Mexican weighs from 130.1 to 131 lbs, and $1 million if he weighs in at 132 lbs or more.

 

Then Pacquiao will also have the option to just take the $1 million and not climb the ring at the Thomas and Mack Center. Pacquiao said he might use this option if Morales weighs 132 or more.

 

"Manny Pacquiao should not worry himself. I am going to fight him in the date indicated at the Thomas and Mack Center. And he should forget about the 132 pounds. I am going to register the limit of the 130 in which the contract was signed," Morales was quoted as saying.

 

When the fight contract was signed last July, Morales was weighing around 165 lbs, but has undergone rigid training, including an eight-week weight reduction program in Los Angeles.

 

Morales weighed 142 last Oct. 18 and reports indicate that he’s now down to 137 with still 17 days left before the fight.

 

"I expect to conquer Pacquiao. And I’m not going to give him favor of paying him $1 million," Morales told Mexican newspapers.

 

 

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200611011602.htm

[dark_horse]

SM Cinemas charge 500 pesos for the Pacquiao-Morales Fight!

 

BOO!!! :thumbsdownsmiley:

totoo ba eto?

 

:thumbsdownsmiley:

[coldfussion]

oo tol tutuo yan...just watch the commercials on solarsports. or better yet go to any SM cinemas to check the price of the tickets.

[tio piting]

oo tol tutuo yan...just watch the commercials on solarsports. or better yet go to any SM cinemas to check the price of the tickets.

I don't think it's the solely the fault of SM that the prices are way too high. I believe Solar has a lot to do with this. Btw, i heard they will also be charging the same in Ayala-operated cinemas that has tied-up w/ Solar. Talk about taking advantage of the consumers, tsk tsk tsk.

[T.T.]

P500???? that's a ton of b.s.

I'll just watch the fight on tv

[peep_tom]

And dapat iboycott ang showing sa mga cinemas para madala ang Solar Sports na maningil ng sobra sobra. Pagnanakaw na ang ginagawa nila.

[kuya willie]

boksing na nga lang ang libangan , pati ba naman doon e gagaguhin pa tayo!!!!

 

500!! magtiyaga na lang ako sa TV na tadtad ng patalastas!!!! tarantadong solar sports yan

[T.T.]

i-boycott yang Solar Sports sa cinema.

t*ng-in* nila

[koolass]

Negosyo yan mga bro...pero syempre sama ako sa boycott...mas masarap manood ng libre e...

[greenarrow]

Pacquiao bout winner to face Barrera for title

By Abac Cordero

The Philippine Star 11/03/2006

 

Marco Antonio Barrera must be smelling a Manny Pacquiao victory over Erik Morales later this month that this early, the reigning WBC champion has marked the date for his projected rematch with the Filipino ring gladiator.

 

Barrera, holder of the World Boxing Council 130 lbs. title, reportedly met with his brother Jorge and adviser Roberto Diaz the other day, and they have agreed that the awaited rematch with Pacquiao should come on March 11 next year.

 

Barrera lost to Pacquiao by way of an 11th round knockout when they first met on Nov. 16, 2003 in San Antonio, Texas. Almost written off after the loss, the Mexican assassin picked up the pieces, scoring a string of victories that gave him back the world crown.

 

Barrera has long waited or evaded a rematch with the punching machine from Mindanao. But the time has come and, granting that Pacquiao beats Morales on Nov. 18, in Las Vegas, the rematch is bound to happen early next year.

 

Jose Sulaiman, the WBC president, presided over the 44th annual convention of the boxing body in Croatia last Wednesday, and among the important matters discussed and decided were the mandatory title defenses in the different weight classes.

 

The WBC announced that the coming fight between Pacquiao and Morales, who are dead even at 1-1, will serve as the final eliminator to determine the official challenger for Barrera.

 

Pacquiao is currently the No. 1 contender, and Morales the No. 2. In case they both fail to accept the Barrera fight, it will be No. 3 Humberto Soto of Mexico who’ll be taking a shot at the world crown.

 

Barrera and Morales have already fought thrice, with the former sealing a 2-1 edge in the form of a 12-round decision on Nov. 27, 2004 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was a classic series that many boxing fans had hoped would never end.

 

But the question is if Morales would still agree to fight Barrera at 130 lbs if the former three-time world champion gets by Pacquiao at the Thomas and Mack Center barely two weeks from now.

 

Barrera looks more interested in fighting Pacquiao that he has already mapped out his training schedule.

 

It should begin next month with long runs inside the forest of Jalisco, and by January he’d be moving to the Big Bear camp in California for a 45-day regimen.

 

While Pacquiao and Morales caught the fans glued on their rivalry, Barrera, the champion, was forced to take on lesser opponents, and in the process earning lesser than the two former champions. A fight with Pacquiao would land Barrera a huge paycheck.

 

Pacquiao and Morales will receive no less than $3 million each for their coming showdown dubbed "The Grand Finale."

 

Both Pacquiao and Barrera are now under Oscar dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, and it wouldn’t be hard to set up a rematch especially if the Filipino wins over Morales. The date, however, may be an issue since March 11 would be too close to Pacquiao’s coming fight.

 

A rematch between Pacquiao and Barrera will also open the doors to a possible third match in case the heads-on showdown is squared. If this happens, it could even be bigger than Pacquiao-Morales because in this showdown the world title will be at stake.

 

 

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/news200611031601.htm

[greenarrow]

Pacquiao in delicate phase of training

 

 

 

By NICK GIONGCO

 

MANNY PACQUIAO has entered the most delicate phase of his training and trainer Freddie Roach “will push him harder” next week as the final countdown begins for the Filipino southpaw’s Nov. 18 rubber match with Erik Morales.

 

 

Roach revealed yesterday that "Manny had another great day sparring on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila)" against three different sparring partners for a total of 12 rounds at the Wild Card Boxing Club where Roach has been holding workouts behind closed doors.

 

"Only those who have business staying with Manny are allowed to stay when Manny trains," Roach said yesterday after supervising another Pacquiao training session.

 

"We did five rounds with the mitts today and tomorrow we are going to spar again for another 12 rounds," said Roach, a former contender from Boston on whose shoulders also lie the big responsibility of making sure Pacquiao is in awesome shape for the scheduled 12-rounder at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

 

The Team Pacquiao is planning to travel to Las Vegas on Nov. 12, a Sunday, instead of the usual Monday before the fight.

 

"We usually travel the Monday before the fight, but since Monday falls on a 13th, Manny said we’ll just go on Sunday. Manny’s kinda superstitious," added Roach.

 

Last week, there were reports that Pacquiao would head for Las Vegas on Nov. 14. In Sin City, Pacquiao will train at a well-equipped facility inside the IBA compound just a few blocks from the famed Strip.

 

Whenever Pacquiao fights in Vegas, he works out at this gym owned by former Major League player Dean Chance.

 

Team Pacquiao will be billeted at the Wynn Las Vegas, the newest landmark on Las Vegas Boulevard.

 

Rex "Wakee" Salud, a confidant of Pacquiao, has been assigned to take care of the airfare and fight tickets of the southpaw’s long list of guests from the Philippines.

 

Salud had indicated recently that it would be better for him to go straight to Vegas to finalize the room assignments before all hell breaks loose in the final days leading to the fight.

 

 

http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT2006110478826.html

[ladju]

hey guys.. odds are out for Pacman-Morales match. As of today:

 

Pacquiao to win: 1.36

Morales to win: 2.69

Draw: 15.00

(odds are not fixed)

 

Formula is odds x bet. Minimum bet is only 100.00.. so if you placed 100 for draw- you'll get 1500 if the game ends up in a draw.

 

Visit https://www.megasportsworld.com/en.aspx

[nathalia]

watch-out for the grand finale....

sino tatapos?.....pacs :cool:

[Mr KIM]

lapit na ito still 50-50 :cool:

[edc]

Dapat manalo Pacquiao para makalaban Barera.

 

Pag Morales nanalo sya makakalaban kay Barera. Kasawa na eh. Ilan beses na sila naglaban.

 

Pero parang si Morales mananalo. Ewan ko bakit pumayag si Pacquiao na overweight si Morales tapos magbabayad na lng si Morales pag sobra sa timbang. Tapos pag nag-exceed sa 2pounds eh may right si Pacquiao hindi ituloy yung laban.

 

PAg hindi sya lumaban magmumukha sya duwag. Pag lumaban naman sya at natalo magmumukha naman sya tanga. Parang nagulangan ata si Pacquiao ah.

 

Mukha kailangan talaga nya manalo. Pero parang hirap i-duplicate yung ginawa ni Pacquiao last na laban nila. Masyado sya Perfect nun. Kailangan mas Perfect sya ngayon or dapat dehydrated ulit si Morales.

 

Pag pareha tiptop shape si Pacquiao and Morales kay Morales ako.

 

Mukhang labanan ito ng Timbangan. Buti na lang sa ibang bansa gagawin. Kung dito gagawin baka ma-accuse na naman mga Filipino na madurugas. Baka Timbangan ng Palengke gamitin

Edited November 4, 2006 by edc

[greenarrow]

Pacquiao-Morales III

at the Shang Cineplex

[T.T.]

si Morales ang mananalo, just wait and see

[clubber_lang]

si Morales ang mananalo, just wait and see

Ok. We'll all wait and see!

 

Personally, I see Pacquiao winning via his best performance yet!

 

Whatever happens, though, this is bound to be a classic!

 

Peace!

[T.T.]

In my analysis, if both are well conditioned (and both are right now), Erik has the edge. That's why they call it "sweet science", skill is important and not only speed and strength.

 

Besides, the sport is called "boxing" and not "knockout"

[MRyoso]

im rooting for pacquiao

 

but my heart is for morales

 

grabe when i was in vegas 2 or 3 weeks ago, pinapakita sa screen ng wynn hotel yung pacquiao morales 3.

 

nakakakilabot

 

pinoy tayo! :cool:

[SCORPIONPRINCE]

In my analysis, if both are well conditioned (and both are right now), Erik has the edge. That's why they call it "sweet science", skill is important and not only speed and strength.

 

Besides, the sport is called "boxing" and not "knockout"

 

Well that's true but Pacquiao has grown mature and sa kanya din nanggaling na he will outbox morales and go for the knockout. That's why there is "knockout" in Boxing. He has that gift and he will use that thru his advantage. Aside from being a mature boxer, Pacquiao is a passionate fighter. He fights from his heart and that will emerge him victorious in the grand finale.

 

GO MANNY! :thumbsupsmiley:

[T.T.]

Do you guys still remember Juan Manuel Marquez, the boxer who Pacboy knocked down three times in the first round of their match.

 

Well, according to one forum that I frequent, they believe that he has turned gay. They say he has a Jap lover.

 

Look at the pics below and see how the Jap boy is grinding his ass against JMM's groin

 

I think something happened to his brain when Pacboy punched him hard on the head.

[MRyoso]

Do you guys still remember Juan Manuel Marquez, the boxer who Pacboy knocked down three times in the first round of their match.

 

Well, according to one forum that I frequent, they believe that he has turned gay. They say he has a Jap lover.

 

Look at the pics below and see how the Jap boy is grinding his ass against JMM's groin

 

I think something happened to his brain when Pacboy punched him hard on the head.

 

 

 

wtf!

 

haha

 

wer'd you get these pics

 

he's still active

 

may laban siya dis november

 

pero sa totoo lang, dito nahirapan si pacquiao

 

dapat si jmm ang panalo nun

 

the best counterpuncher ive seen

 

swerte lang si pacqiuao napatumba niya to ng 3 times

 

kung hnd talo siya nun

Edited November 6, 2006 by misteryosong_torpe

[clubber_lang]

EEEWWW!!!

 

Damn, Pacquiao's punch can really damage a guy's brain eh?

 

Watch out Erik!