The man credited for the rise of former two-time world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa sincerely believes Erik Morales won’t make the weight in his upcoming fight with Manny Pacquiao.

At the most, according to veteran boxing analyst Hermie Rivera, the two will battle it out at a catch weight of 132 pounds when they meet for the third time at the Thomas Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 18 (Nov 19. Manila time)

“Mahihirapan siya,” said Rivera, referring to Morales’ effort to trim down to the super-featherweight limit of 130 pounds.

“Assuming he makes the weight, pero mahihirapang maka-recover yan.”

During the 30-day pre-fight weigh-in, the 30-year old native of Tijuana came in at 142 lbs. giving him less than a month to shed the unwanted pounds and make the limit.

“That’s the reason why Bob Arum (who promotes Morales and the fight itself under his Top Rank Promotions) is moving heaven and earth to save the match by having Manny fight Erik at 132 lbs.” said Rivera, the manager of Espinosa when he reigned as World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight champion in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

“They won’t mind paying the fine,” he said , aware of the special clause in the fight contract stipulating that Morales pays $500,000 for every excess poundage.

Rivera compared the case of Morales to a similar experience with Espinosa during his futile comeback attempt in 2002 against former US Olympian Zahir Raheem in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“We we’re three-pounds over the weight (126 pounds) a day before the fight. But Louie made it by doing six rounds of Shadow Boxing and skipping ropes,” he recalled.

“We had a great start during the fight. Luisito even knocked Raheem down in the second round. Pero pagdating ng fifth, naubusan na kami. Raheem won that fight with an 8th round stoppage,” said Rivera.

Incidentally, Raheem also dealt Morales a second beating when they fought a year ago at the Staples Center in Los Angeles by scoring a unanimous decision win.

Rivera also remembered that Espinosa was over the weight limit when he fought Khaokur Galaxy for the WBA championship in 1989 in Bangkok, but was able to tip the scale at 118 pounds through ‘diet and rigorous workouts.”

“Besides, Espinosa kayoed Galaxy in just 90 seconds, so walang naging problema dun,” he stressed.

A similar weight issue hounded the Espinosa camp when he defended his title at the Araneta Coliseum two years later against Israel Contreras of Venezuela in a match won by the Venezuelan after knocking out the highly drained Filipino in the fifth round.

“Also Luisito had been newly married, kaya hindi rin ganun ka-concentrated ‘yung training nya,” Rivera said.

“But I’ve seen him (Espinosa) suffered trying to make the weight in several of his fights.”

He sees the same debacle happening to Morales.

“The drastic reduction in weight could take it’s toll on Morales and that’s the most difficult part. How will Morales be able to retain his power and stamina in the late rounds?” Rivera added.

Weighed-in by the WBC, Pacquiao came in at 138 pounds, a weight which doesn’t even bother Rivera.

“At the most, Manny may be 136 pounds now. And I think kaya niyang i-program ‘yung weight niya, so there’s no problem there at all,” he said.

Rivera, boxing man and part-time broadcaster expects Morales to come out fast right on opening bell in his attempts to end the fight early or pile up the necessary points.

But he sees the Filipino lefty from General Santos City breaking Morales apart early on, before delivering the coup de grace in the later rounds, in the same manner Pacquiao did when he scored a 10th round technical knockout over the Mexican warrior in their rematch last January also in Las Vegas.

Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales, a hard working–multi-titled -champ gets a final stab at redemption when he takes on Manny ’Pacman‘ Pacquiao to close out their fancied trilogy in Las Vegas, Nevada..

November 18th is when Erik engages Manny in a crucial bid to evade ignominy against a rival who wants him out of the fight scene earlier than usual.

That has been the fixed purpose of Pacquiao since knocking out Morales in their rematch that fattened his money chests— a fortune in U.S. dollars earned in such a mega-fight.

“Eric Morales should never be allowed to upset the applecart!” That’s Team Paquiao’s latest battlecry resonating at the Wild Card gym of chief trainer Freddie Roach as they step up their drive for a decisive win in this budding opus.

What a way to end it– a knockout like what Manny fashioned out against an outclassed Erik

Now, who of the two warriors can get the edge once they go for the jugular? Or who’s likely to fall into a trap they’ll be conjuring in between swaps of heavy blows that’s certain to thrill the legions who’ll be watching live at the site or on broadcast outlets. Not to mention the fans willing to go hungry while waiting for the free TVcast..

”End it the best way possible, a knockout we should all expect after the 6th round” barks Freddie during a torrid session with his ward at his Hollywood training pad. A sure route to further Manny’s stardom if executed properly, right?

But like any displeased loser, Erik is most insistent his ‘kayo’ by the Pacman was all about a flawed set-up with a new team sans his Papa Jose who was conspicuously missing during those crucial sessions.

Morales’ presence is assured by his troupe at the Thomas and Mack Center where he wants to wreck whatever countermarch Pacquiao has ordered for the match.

Undaunted by taunts of a beating from Pacman’s camp, the Tijuana fight mogul says “he’ll do the punching in the ring for a conclusive ending.”

A slimmed-down Erik has been paraded by his handlers in in a bid to tone down the nagging bombast on his supposed weight worries.

“What we’ve come to know” cried an observer on Erik’s first official try at the scales,“is an anxious fighter raring to go after his Filipino tormentor pronto.”

By the way, Manny remains the bettors favorite in this rubber bout that should usher in a generous serving of fistic skills and know how.

“This is the fight I’ve always wanted–Pacquiao’s singing notwithstanding,” Morales intoned during a rare chat with ace reporter Dyan Castillejo at his Otomi Mountain camp.

Now do tell me how Erik can gain grounds with Manny threatening to expose a weapon that could run roughshod on his preparations.?

Will El Mexicano lose his edge (if any) once the Filipino hero unloads his ‘ugly’ singing at the weigh-in?

Not to worry folks.There is nothing to suggest that the “Grand Finale” will be unbearably dull knowing that both Pacquiao and Morales have been delivering the same action-filled slugfest we’ve all come to admire.

THE much-awaited 12-round showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Eric Morales in Las Vegas, Nevada, is almost at hand.

As we approach the fight date of Nov. 18 (19th Manila time), reporters and fans are still unsure as to who has the edge in the final deal of this intriguing trilogy.

I guess you would be, too, if you count yourself part of a large throng salivating for a seat in boxing’s newest heaven—the Thomas and Mack Center—where Morales tumbled to submission courtesy of a 10th round knockout by the hitman from GenSan, Cotabato.

Before that, “El Terrible” Morales halted Pacquiao’s winning streak in March of last year, an outstanding feat that put a dent on Pacman’s winning form throughout much of his comeback.

But the Filipino boxing idol avenged his painful loss with aplomb—dealing the Mexican three-time champ the only knockout loss of his checkered career.

Somehow,I find my elation stressed, as we near the conclusion of this bitter rivalry of the icons with the impending trip of a parasitic band to this spectacular finale at Pacquiao’s expense.

Favored officials of the Games and Amusements board have finalized their travel itinerary, unmindful of the need to look for ways to help our boxers needing assistance as mandated by their charter. This outfit could’nt care less for as long as they are snugly ensconced at ringside for such boxing rarity.

Never mind if their presence is needed here to afford them a chance at lobbying for a professional boxing act that could set safety standards for our pugilists.

Not even health insurance is provided for our great unwashed, and the much needed protection for our fighters from absconding promoters is non existent under the current set-up.

Worse, this agency does not implement its own regulation covering purses which provides that prize money of contending parties must be paid in full before a championship match is executed.

Case in point: Luisito Espinosa’s 1997 unpaid purse of $150,000 owed to the boxer by the promoters led by ex Gov. Larry de Pedro, Rod Nazario and Lito Mondejar in that regrettable title setto in Koronadal, South Cotabato

What we’ve been treated to is the spectacle of GAB subalterns headed by their top honchos, constantly touring boxing sites of dubious fight organizations.

These modern-day Marco Polos have been at it since heaven-knows-when, circumnavigating the various boxing capitals instead of finding ways to help solve problems bedeviling the fight game.

It would also do well for everyone to keep track of the continued pilgrimage of our gallivanting politicos who splurge at the fabulous sights and sounds of glitzy Vegas at any given Pacquiao fight.

The same aggregation who’ve done nothing to help our bold practitioners of the art—our ambassadors who’ve brought honor and pride to the country.

What we are left to stare at is our helpless band of ring campaigners who’ve been utterly neglected by heartless souls who abound in what the late Jimmy Cannon calls “the red light district of sports.”

Sound management is critical to the health of an organization, office or association. Sadly, the country is saddled with an agency that has outlived its usefulness.

About time a more robust sports body is created, one that could give a much needed-breath of fresh air to our hapless prizefighters. Any takers?

IT used to he fought bare-knuckled until it evolved into a more civilized struggle.

And since its gradual change into what is now perceived as a sweet science, boxing has provoked writers to chronicle its finest moments as well as its not so wholesome side.

The case of Marco Antonio Barrera, unbeaten since Manny Pacquiao showed him the door in their Texas battle, is an issue that refuses to go away. It has attracted undeserved attention from a handful of scribes running out of pegs to angle their releases.

Despite Marco’s splendid rebound since his loss to the Pacman, some anti-Barrera forces and a columnist or two, remain oblivious to the drubbings he dealt Paulie Ayala. Still a few aren’t convinced even with his sterling wins over his bitter rival Erik Morales.

Not even the brutal stoppage of Mzonke Fana, capped by decisions of the game Rocky Juarez and Robbie Peden could soften their bias on a return go with the Philippine idol.

Morales, whom Barrera beat twice in three of their title matches, holds a grudging acceptance of the result of their own trilogy thus posing no objection to the planned March 2007 Pacquiao-Barrera outing.

But why are we ahead of our story which should be that ‘Grand Finale,’ starring Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Erik “El Terrible” Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. l8 (19 Manila time).

This early, Pacquiao’s fans are wondering how their idol is doing sans the distractions that usually attend his camp since being quartered by his trainer Freddie Roach.

So far so good, as of Manny’s last sighting at the Hollywood Wild Card gym where he has begun beating up his sparmates.

Manny’s acquisition of the boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya continues to reap headlines (by the way), leading his minions to conclude that a miracle is the only way by which Erik can avenge his loss to the Filipino icon, who possesses an obsessive ability to make a permanent mark if his career is at stake.

For Morales, no problemo as far as weight woes are concerned, or so his handlers claim. He has seen to it that the lead time he put in at a Los Angeles fitness center is enough to save him tons of ‘greens’ he must shell out in case he fails to meet the required 130-pound limit.

If there’s a fighter somewhere intent in avenging the only knockout loss of his career–that would be Erik right? And he can do that if his sleep these nights is not broken by nightmares of his 10th-round knockout by Manny last January.

But how would Erik’s weight loss program affect his performance when the Pac Man he’ll be tangling with is hassle-free from his ubiquitous bosses, with the matchless boon—Oscar De La Hoya—now in his corner to boot?

Will Morales be retaining the power of his punches which he routinely throws in bunches? Or the ordeal of constant dieting and other weight-sapping exercises be just too much once he goes into his most arduous task—that of dealing a fast beating of the Filipino superman?

Less than two months into the fight, Pacquiao has emerged the early favorite in a posting that could sway into Morales’ way if he winds up with a better camp performance.

Two great fighters fighting for honors and money for their respective countries.

“Gone is the unpolished Manny,” says coach Freddie. “A compleat slugger is what Erik will get,” Roach continues as they rev up their grind against a foe who’s no slouch either—a Morales who’s dead set in battling his bane of extra poundage in a daring bid to check in—problem-free—for the Grand Finale. Stay tuned.