The last time I filled a news space, I told everyone who cared how good Manny Pacman Pacquiao was despite his loss to Erik Morales.

Then quick as a jungle cat, the GenSan marvel went on to knockout journeyman Hector Velasquez in an aftermath of his bitter loss to the man they call El Terrible who he faces in a rematch on January 21 in Las Vegas.

The persistent query I’ve been getting is whether the South Cotabato sensation has what it takes to beat the smart-punching Tijuana native. In a meeting at Vegas’ MGM Grand, these macho super-featherweights served a delectable slugfest that compellied promoter Bob Arum to bring them back for an encore.

Rid of his financial woes inflicted by his ex bosses, Pacquiao could win his grudge match with Morales provided his training not marred by distractions, much like his preparations weeks leading to his showdown with the three time Mexican champ,

Pacquiao has a lot to do yet though. Which means that only after three weeks of rigorous training will one get an indication as to how serious the rivals are in their rubber bout. Both are way off in their training regimen at this stage.

Howeve,you can bet they’ll tear at each other’s throat once they square off for all the marbles ika nga – disdaining what purists call a probing round. Indeed! No such thing as sizing up the opposition in the early going.

It is going to be a war with no favors sought save for the retention of the allowed rest period between rounds.

From the get go, Pacquiao will launch an early raid on Morales’ defensive arsenal — no surprise at all since that’s his trademark.

But El Mexicano will obliged the Pacman with his prompt counter blows.. That scenaro happened in their first confrontation.

I’m not looking at a drastic change on how they’ll go about re-arranging each other’s physical attributes even with the added raise in their

paychecks not to mention the hefty share both will be earning from their pay per view deals.

Neither will there be a slack on the savage pace both will employ once the opening gong sounds at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Absolute ring mayhem will explode with the winner and loser emerging overnight millonaires if not badly cut ring tycoons.

Remember the bloody slit Pacman suffered in the 5th round caused by a head butt their first time out?

Keep in mind too that the stakes are stupendously high for this rematch with both parties bankrolling unheard of lucre.

Enough to fund a coup?