MORALES WILL BE STRONG
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 Oct 2006
Erik Morales is not going to run out of energy in his third and deciding fight with Manny Pacquiao according to a report from Boxing Scene writer James Blears who previously shot footage of Morales training in the refreshing air of Otomi for Viva Sports.
In an email to Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Blears quoted Jorgen Persson, an Exercise Physiologist from Velocity Sports Performance in West Los Angeles as saying Morales wont run out of energy because “he’s going to be in tip-top shape and strong” within the 130 pound limit, Persson was appointed by Top Rank to work with Morales at the Otomi high altitude center.
Blears reports that Morales sauntered into Mexico City’s Melia Hotel for the WBC weigh in thirty days before the fight and came in at 142 pounds and “looked relaxed and strong.” Persson was satisfied and said that Morales “can lose the remaining weight gradually which is good because he’s not going to get burned out and he’s not going to get what in technical terms is called catabolic.”
Persson noted that if you don’t eat enough “your body actually starts using up your muscles and you fatigue which is what could have happened in the previous fight when he (Morales) didn’t time the gradual progression of weight loss. This is not going to happen this time.” A visibly tired Morales was stopped in the tenth round last January in what was regarded as a devastating performance by Pacquiao.
The expert referred to Morales as “possibly the most intelligent boxer I’ve worked with. He is very dedicated. When it comes to nutrition we can take some credit but really he has his food weighed every day so he is very dedicated to accomplishing his goals. He doesn’t need any baby sitting, He knows what he’s doing.”
WBC executive director Mauricio Sulaiman said the Grand Finale rubber match between Pacquiao and Morales will be a battle of strategies as much as a war of willpower. He said “if Erik has the ability to manage to box and counter Manny, he will be establishing his style. His jab and ring generalship will be of tremendous importance. If Manny has the ability to get Erik into a slugfest it will be to Manny’s afvantage.”
Morales himself said “this will be an interesting and difficult fight and I;m going to win.” Morales’s father Joe who is back at the helm training his son said “we are going to triumph definitely, like the first time.”
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