BARRERA REVELATION SURPRISES TEAM PACQUIAO
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 19 Jan 2006
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA--An interview by Ring Magazine with WBC/IBF superfeatherweight Marco Antonio Barrera in its March 2006 issue serves as the only dampener to an otherwise festive mood here as Manny Pacquiao and Erik "El Terrible" Morales faced the media yesterday at the Wynn Hotel for the final press conference of this Saturday's big rematch (Sunday in Manila) at the Thomas and Mack Center at the University of Las Vegas here.
The interview, which quoted Barrera and adviser Robert Diaz, had claimed that Morales and his camp had used the gloves to try to put one over Barrera prior to their classic second fight.
When told that Morales had said he lost the second fight, Barrera countered, "In the second fight, they tried to trick us. They tried to cheat and tried to pass off Winning gloves as Reyes."
"On the outside everything was Reyes, but in the inside they were Winning fabricated gloves that just had the Reyes logo," said Robert Diaz, who advises Barrera in his career.
This came amid reports two days ago that both Pacquiao and Morales would be using the Mexico-made Reyes gloves in their rematch.
NSAC on gloves
However, Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman Marc Ratner, in an interview with the Inquirer, had clarified that Morales' camp has decided to go back to using their favorite Winning gloves, while Pacquiao will use Cleto Reyes, the punchers' gloves.
"The Morales camp has decided that they will use Winning, while Pacquiao will wear Cleto Reyes gloves, and that's final," said Ratner.
Games and Amusements Board boxing division chief Emmanuel Flores and Dr. Naser Cruz, here to assist Pacquiao, had earlier said that the gloves should be strictly monitored if only to assure a fair fight, although they both downplayed possibilities of Morales' camp attempting to tinker with the gloves.
Prescon at Wynn
Aside from Pacquiao and Morales, yesterday's press conference was also attended by promoter Bob Arum, Wynn Hotel developer Steve Wynn, Pacquiao's manager Shelly Finkel and promoter Gary Shaw, as well as Morales' manager Fernando Beltran, who described both fighters as the Elvis Presley's of their respective countries.
"The sportsbook says that the odds, as of today, is now dead even," revealed Arum, whose announcement was confirmed by John Avello of Sportsbook.com.
"This is like the Olympics of boxing. Both fighters represent their country, but put your money on an 8th round KO by Pacquiao. Manny has no distraction, is happy, eating well. You'll see a different Pacquiao," announced Gary Shaw, while a Mexican fan was shouting at the back of the packed Mouton Hall of Wynn Hotel.
"Both of us will give you a great fight. I thank all my people, my team, and the president of my country for the support," Pacquiao said in English, the only boxer to speak the language at the podium.
Freddie Roach, who has reportedly designed a strategy to counter Morales' strengths, also indicated that Pacquiao will be at his best and there will be no excuses after the fight.
"We're completely ready for Saturday. It's going to be a difficult fight. But we still have a lot to give to the fans, and we did great preparation both mental and physical," countered Morales who spoke through an interpreter.
Official weigh-in will be this Friday (Saturday in Manila) starting 3PM at Wynn Hotel's Margaux 2 Hall.
END
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