By Hermie Rivera

That’s Manny Pacquiao’s clear intent in crushing Marco Barrera’s October hunt for redemption at Vegas’ Mandalay Bay resort/casino.

The Filipino idol is itching to repeat his 11th round knockout of the Mexican three-time champ who’s recklessness at the Alamodome in San Antonio almost ruined his livelihood.

Makes one wonder why Barrera would want to risk it all again.

But Barrera is one good fighter who is now doing it right.

The ring-savvy Guadalajaran has once more become attractive to promoters—6 straight wins since his Texas collapse—minus the theft of his WBC jr.lightweight belt he defended against Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand.

Less than four years since that debacle, Barrera aced all of his opponents to become a viable corrival of the Pinoy ring icon.

Now,Marco is into a bold experiment—that of engaging the services of Edwin Valero, a Venezuelan lefty who has iced all of his 22 victims.( Pedicab drivers?)

So far there’s been no hints of distraction that marred Marco’s preparations.

Nothing vexed Manny’s camp either save for a minor ailment which was readily remedied.

We will know soon if this imported sparmate can deliver for the ‘assassin’ who has been ranting he’ll smash the Pacman for avoiding him like the hated tax hound.

Valero must help his new found padrino. Otherwise, Senor Barrera’s worst fear of getting kayoed one more time will happen.

Marco’s toughness is a given. But his ability to extricate himself from a Pacquiao-orchestrated bind remains his chief headache as we move closer to the highly-awaited classic.

OK, there’s a chance for the multi-titled Mex to pull an upset. But he has to negate Manny’s speed else a bad loss will mark the end of Barrera as a world-class fighter..

Not an easy task since Marco is up against a nasty mangler who nearly converted his boxing license into a sales document that permits him to sell pencils in his cozy Guadalajara.

Fight fans generally want to watch action-sated smokers spiced by punches that twist a fighter’s face which their own Moms can’t recognize.

No problem. In this bout, both combatants are capable of providing one-punch knockouts or the multi-blow variety.

There will be more power punches thrown than those executed in their first encounter—making it a compelling theater steeped in high drama.

No title is at stake this time as decreed by the promoters.

The WBC has been imposing it’s International title belt to extract unjustified sanction fees from the involved fighters.

One of the greatest perfidies since the sale of the Brooklyn bridge more than once by con artists in various eras.

By Recah Trinidad

LOS ANGELES — It would be terribly unwise of Marco Antonio Barrera to kill himself preparing for a two-fisted roller coaster in his next fight.

Manny Pacquiao, a marked southpaw, may indeed throw more right hands come Saturday, Oct. 6 in Las Vegas. But if Barrera bothers to put his over-abused nose closer to the video screen, he would discover that the dreaded right hand was already there when Pacquiao ran him over in November 2003.

If in doubt, Barrera could go send one assistant to the Wild Card gym here where there’s a yellowish full newspaper page pasted on the right wall, immediately after the door, detailing the gory presence of the right hand nose-crusher in their first encounter in Texas.

It’s, of course, unclear whether the Pacquiao right shot came in the form of a hook or a jab, but the impact of the blow pitifully distorted Barrera’s handsome profile beyond recognition.

* * *

That said, we take this opportunity to inform Señor Barrera he should start preparing for a Pacquiao hidden weapon.

No, correction. This one that ultimately opened the door to Barrera’s lamentable defeat four years ago is not exactly secret.

But if it should now loom like a mystery, a fleeting midnight blade landing like a lightning bolt, it’s because of the dumb fact Barrera et al had overlooked it.

Instead of Pacquiao’s over-hyped new shot — the right hook, which had at one time been associated with the disloyal Manila Ice — Barrera should come ready to duck the Big Jab.

Whether Barrera likes it or not, he will be standing up before a two-handed upheaval in Pacquiao.

It’s, of course, hard to tell whether that storm could complete the devastation or dissipate ahead, given Pacquiao’s uneven training regimen that saw him bolting perfect Wild Card to keep love fires burning at home.

* * *

Anyway, credit for exposing the hidden Pacquiao weapon goes to John Chavez who, writing for Boxing News, went off the beaten track to give The Jab its rightful place in the Sweet Science:

“While there’s been so much emphasis on Pacquiao’s power punches in recent times, it’s the simplest and subtle things in his arsenal that truly make him special … It’s funny how even at the highest levels in boxing, the simplest punch is still and will always be the most important.”

Touché.

Now, let’s call in the inimitable Hermie Rivera, who bothered to lend us his observation from his love nest in San Jose, in the process confirming how trainer Freddie Roach had also given credit to Pacquiao’s phantom jab:

* * *

“If Manny starts out with his usual dose of non-stop punching, then a shortened evening is in store for Marco who’s in a grind himself sweating his butt off at a Guadalajara gym.

“Midway into their arduous workouts, I still can’t see how Barrera can avenge his knockout by Pacquiao. Unless he has grown a third arm and a leg to boot.

“Buoyed by the expert handling of Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez, the southpaw terror is on track to reassert his dominance of the Mexican three-time champ.

“At best, Barrera will find it discomfiting — at worst difficult — once Pacquiao opens up with his long list of stinging hooks and straights set up by his wicked jabs.

“‘Any fighter leading with the jab can execute the knockout drills polished in the workouts,’” says Freddie.

“You can bet the house Marco would be looking for ways to surprise Manny in their re-acquaintance shindig.

“Manny’s powerful strikes hurt Marco in their first encounter, forcing his handlers to stop it in the 11th round.

“He was staggered repeatedly by solid shots unleashed without let-up by the Filipino crackerjack.

“This time, expect Marco to seek desperate means to eke out an upset over his hard-hitting rival.

“To execute such plan, Barrera must engage Pacquiao early and whack away at every turn to exact maximum damage — else he’ll be in pasture posthaste.

“Ironically, a defeat could revive Marco’s stalled drive to earn a law degree, an avid wish sidetracked by his 11th round collapse at San Antonio’s Alamodome.

“If Barrera gets blown out again, maybe he can seek solace in the successional defense of his future clients. Against Manny — he’s defenseless.

“While Barrera was consistent in winning most of his fights, there’s something vital that he must do but didn’t in their first war.

“He must avoid standing in front of Manny and getting an abundance of heavy jolts sans the obligatory counterpoise. I’m sure Barrera’s handlers know about this fistic gaffe by now.

“Now we are looking at a healthy Pacquiao and this means the Pinoy mangler is all set to repeat his enthralling stoppage of the vengeance-seeking Barrera.”

By Hermie Rivera

These days, we find Manny Pacquiao resting from a failed political bid but come Oct. 6, millions of boxing fans will feast on a sure-fire slugfest with Marco Antonio Barrera.

While Barrera has grown a tad wiser than usual, his rout by Pacquiao at San Antonio’s Alamodome (11TH rd KO) has observers ruling out an upset in the rematch at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Memories of that meeting, tough one to ignore” says the baby-faced assassin as he gears up for his climb to respectability.

Barrera has started training while Pacquiao has started shooting a film.

With Barrera’s headstart, who do think gets assassinated? The Pacman? Or will lefty Manny go back to his well of powerful deliveries to bomb sillier the transplanted Guadalajaran?

Methinks he will without a doubt.

Jorge Solis, the last Mexican Manny smashed (8th round ko) cautions his compatriot not to stay stationary and allow Manny to get off with his hefty shots. Calls Pacquiao’s speed special, adding that Marco will stay upright for as long as he can sneak in his solid licks. .

Barrera, honored by his selection as Pacquiao’s opponent is not throwing away the privilege of redeeming himself from that Texas fiasco.

It took him almost four years to get the rematch, winning all of his matches since that Lone Star debacle to include the World Boxing Council super-featherweight crown which was stolen on March 15 by Juan Manuel Marquez. Thanks in large measure to the inept-judging by the arbiters abeted by a sight-impaired referee.

It is therefore crucial for Marco to stay unbeaten since another cataclysmal outing will end his colorful career.

It will be a violent contact between two of boxing’s finest with both warriors capable of ending it early once they spot an opening for their blasters.

Their styles excites. A collision of true belters that’s likely to conclude in a knockout.

This means the judges will not figure at all in deciding who wins it. Good.

So then, is it going to be a walk in the park for Manny? “Not so” says Marco’s backers. “There’s no one at the fight scene who can infuse drama and excitement better than our man.”

Indeed, it was dramatic and exciting watching Marco drop to the canvas like an uncontrolled yoyo in his first encounter with the Cotabato marvel.

With Manny’s cool demeanor bordering on savagery when needed, expect an excellent swaps of truculent wallops with our man getting the better of the exchanges.

The country’s pride is not thinking at all of a loss in the rematch.

He views a setback unacceptable while a repeat win will accentuate his popularity that could bolster his chances for another stab at politics.

This is not just about a fight of Manny Pacquiao, our slugging icon who stands to bag “tons of greens” in his return go with Barrera.

It is about what lies ahead for the Philippines’ preeminent unifier–a clear path to consummate stardom.

Awesome!

Manny Pacquiao is the world’s best fighter. He earned that rare feat from America ’s boxing writers, a distinction no Filipino or an Asian has ever achieved— Fighter of the Year honors.

Manny Pacquiao was feted by the Boxing Writers Association of America for outstanding ring achievements in its 82nd accolade since it started giving the prestigeful award.

The well-attended gala event was held at New York’s Copacabana, a fitting tribute to a deserving Dad who together with lovely wife Jinkee recieved the coveted plaque.

This took place place by the way after finding himself beaten by a lady rival for a congressional seat in his home district of Cotabato, Southern Philippines .

When the country’s boxing icon found himself in an odd terrain, battling a two- termer re-electionist, Manny must have wondered why he chose to become a participatory bet in a zone that’s just torrid for his liking.

A risky move that caused him to lose some of his boxing constituents.

Not to worry.

Pacquiao is likely to woo them back once he starts beating the dickens out of those wanting to test his moxie again.

No signs of ill-effects in his try at politics contrary to claims by his maudlin critics.

The GenSan boxing marvel showed no signs of regret once it was established he was trounced in an area foreign to his calling.

Indeed, Manny didn’t suffer what his career-faultfinders call ‘a fever of despair’ brought about by such an unexpected loss.

Admittedly, it was a costly blunder after submitting himself to the dictates of an arena fraught with trickery and deceit.

Now our idol is itching to return to his favored roped-square where he excels– battling the world’s true fighters.

Nothing but fistic woe to the guy he’ll take on right after that caper where he dropped a bundle.

And we’ve got a lot of names to go by.

First, there’s Marco Antonio Barrera who’s been begging for a rematch since his destruction by the Pacman at San Antonio’s Alamodome.

Manny wants the heavy-fisted Marco as the favored candidate in his list of October probables.

Asked why, the Pacman quoted an idol: “When there is no peril in the fight, there is no glory in the triumph.”

Then, there’s the new World Boxing Council super-featherweight boss, Juan Manuel Marquez who’s been aching to have another go with our hitman since that controversial draw in 2004.

I’m still trying to figure out how Marquez stole the crown from Barrera in that March hold-up at the MGM Grand. (Shades of Floyd Mayweather Jr)

Plus, a slew of other contenders wanting to have a slice at Pacquiao’s treasure sack; to include the unbeaten Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic, Mexican Humberto Soto and Venezuela’s undefeated knockout artist Edwin Valero– who has iced all of his rivals in the featherweight division, or so his backers claim.

Impressive?

Yeah, but other notables tried against our smart punching terror only to wind up deserting Manny’s weight class to escape the killer blows of arguably the hardest hitting ex- politico.

Porbida!

It was a controversy-laden-Sunday at MGM’s Grand in Las Vegas where boxing followers awaited the second coming of Oscar de la Hoya in a failing bid to keep his World Boxing Council light-middleweight crown against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The crowd that trooped to the site and a quarter billion others who saw it on tv and it’s ancillary outlets are still divided on how the fight was judged with a large segment crying foul over the assailed verdict.

Oscar’s controversial loss to Floyd still buzzes the rounds after establishing a new pay per view record where a total of 2.15 million households shelled $54.95 garnering a whopping 120 million U.S. dollars which topped the 1.99 million buys in the second Mike Tyson/Evander Holyfield ‘bite fight.’

The capacity throng that saw it and other tv viewers, now awaits a sequel this time starring Manny Pacquiao against an earlier victim Marco Antonio Barrera.

Manny’s promoter Bob Arum is in town observing his ward’s run for a congressional seat in the first district of South Cotabato.

An announcement from Bob on Manny’s next fight after the elections is likely. This, after the kinks are ironed out in a settlement of his contract dispute with Oscar.

An out of court settlement is in the offing due to the prohibitive cost of litigation pending in two courts.

Still euphoric from his wins over Eric Morales and Jorge Solis, the GenSan Marvel is in a new role as challenger to the scion of a clan that has controlled the first district of South Cotabato for the past three decades.

Manny is relaxed and easy-going while making his daily rounds, pressing the flesh and making sure his votes will be counted to ensure his election as the first ever boxing idol to win a congressional seat.

This is a match-up of a sports champion and an undefeated pollitician who are locked in a battle that’s eyed in most of the world’s boxing capitals.

Manny is touted to deliver the goods in this electoral exercise to pave the way for his exit from the ring.

Poll observers are saying that Manny can beat his rival owing to the support from voters who think he can help his district regain its political footing.

He has to beat Darlene Antonino Custodio who’s determined as well to keep her post.

This is a confrontation Pacman realized as quite extra-ordinary, one he did’nt fully comprehend until he was deep into it– deadlier and dirtier than his previous battles.

He’s looking forward to a peaceful balloting, one he now covets since accepting the call of a befuddling game if you can call it such.

And if his political hunches proves him right, why, we’ll have the first boxing icon elected to the hollowed halls of congress.

It’s been easy to lose track of Pacquiao’s plans since he has acquired a new sense of belonging in an area alien to his haunts.

But given his credentials as a fine boxer coupled with his compelling appeal as a fighter, no one should be surprised if he emerges victorious.

After a brief respite from the fight scene, let me resume my watch on our hard-punching Manny Pacquiao coming after his smashing kayo of the ambitious Mexican, Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Pacquiao’s pre-fight regimen was near perfect what with deputy trainors Justin Fortune, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri providing commendable training despite the absence of head coach Freddie Roach who eventually called the shots at fightnight resulting in a brutal knockout in the eighth round of the gutsy Mexican from Guadalajara.

Exacting dominant performance from his sparring mates, Manny did hang a tidy loss to the unbeaten Solis– claims to the contrary by his henchmen–notwithstanding.

Quite a convincing display of the Pacman’s fire power that virtually enhanced his political bid in the first congressional district of South Cotabato.

Solis insisted that not all of the attention paid to the relentless punching Pacquiao could deter him from pulling an upset.. But it did’nt pan out the way he wanted it as the boxer/politician made total wreck of whatever fight plans the game Mexican brought to the dance.

Solis is as good every bit of the hype that surrounded him when it was announced that he’s the genuine article– until he came face to face with the Pinoy marvel during his first media encounter at an L.A.gym.

“Solis with his undefeated slate had us a bit perplexed during his training. Turns out he ain’t as advertized,” cried a Pacquiao lieutenant after seeing the latest attempt to unsettle the congressional aspirant of the first district of GenSan,Cotabato.

Manny Pacquiao, was comfortable not only on his assignment with the audacious MexTex but more adjusted and relaxed on his other foe—Darlene Custodio, who’s defending her political hold in the first congressional district that includes General Santos, Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan.

Manny was totally focused on his fight with Jorge and has started sorting out facets of his political strategy for the campaign after prevailing in the Alamo shootout.

“I beat my ring foe decisively and and will administer the same to my political rival” was the Filipino sensation’s parting shot before flying home to his supporters.

Seeing what the gifted slugger can do to what he calls his twin killings, I’ve no doubt he’ll come out unscathed after the political smoke clears.

None of his boast is big deal as they say except that we are talking of a campaigner who is odds on to become one of our country’s biggest names— fistically or politically.

By Hermie Rivera

Through most of 2006, Manny Pacquiao was in the spotlight, chased by boxing’s top guns for the right to stage his megabuck fights.

A flick of his fingers lines up guys to his mansion for his signature to multi-million dollar fight contracts.

Pacquiao chose Top Rank’s Bob Arum to act as his promoter— much to the consternation of Oscar de la Hoya, an early favorite in the tug of war of two of boxing’s prime movers.

While Arum snagged Manny’s support for now, the Pacman wanted Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch but was shelved due to the proximity of Oscar de la Hoya’s ‘Cinco de Mayo encuentro’ with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Marco Antonio, the current WBC super featherweight ruler fights for the Golden Boy Promotions. Fact is, he co-promotes his fights with Oscar and so with the rest of the GBP fighters.

Manny’s move to sign up with Bob Arum deprives Oscar’s outfit the opportunity of staging what Barrera fans have been clamoring for; a chance for redemption of their idol since his fall at the hands of the Filipino ring ‘incomparable’ at San Antonio’s Alamodome.

Pshaw! A rare treat for those aching for the rematch capped by an ‘adios’ fight Oscar has penciled against Floyd Jr. on May 5. One of de la Hoya’s treat for Filipino fans as it involves some of our country’s rising stars headed by Ray Boom Boom Bautista, Tony Aldeguer’s unbeaten star.

Pacquiao, last year’s huge boxing free agent is typically unaffected by all the fuss.

The Filipino boxing hero is busy cashing in on the huge outlay Arum has earmarked for our ring idol who, as of this writing, is awaiting Arum’s promised bonanza..

He’ll plunge headlong into training if his meeting with the Mexican champ is salvaged somehow.

A mean feat I say since the rift between Arum and de la Hoya has irretrievably widened what with the announced pairing of Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera in the March 17 championship card at Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas,Nevada.

I wonder how the guys at HBO are taking these mind-boggling developments.

Rumors swirled, speculation and downright misinformation abound as to the route Manny will take even as high-profiled promoters pursued him.

Not even Arum’s repeated claim of an airtight contract with Manny could dissuade other promoters from making a grab of what’s left to take.

Since Manny has no plans of growing heavier and is sticking to his current weight class. the rematch with Barrera remains the only option of Arum to make good his vow of generous commitment to our boxing great– else he is toast.

The other factor vexing Bob is the dearth of talents in his bull pen. Oscar has corraled most if not all of the viable super-featherweight contenders.

So that if one insists on a Barrera/Pacquiao rematch, de la Hoya’s group must be in the mix otherwise there’ll be no meaningful fight for the new year to begin with.

One of Arum’s fighters who is undefeated in 22 fights by knockout is the Venezuelan Edwin Valero.

He is being touted as Pacquiao’s opponent in Macau (courtesy of Steve Wynn) and so with a ringster named Humberto Sotto. The latest entrant to the Macau card is Korea’s InJin Chi.

Manny is not impressed at all.

“Valero’s KO victims” says the GenSan knockout artist are “certified tuktuk drivers of Bangkok.”

So there.

Paquiao’s conquest of Morales means Barrera is next

Some ten months to the day Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao knocked out Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales, the Filipino boxing hero was once again in Las Vegas pulverizing the Mexican’s noggin’ to put his chief rival away for keeps at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Manny’s vicious KO of Erik has clinched for Marco Antonio Barrera his rematch with his Filipino tormentor assuming his feuding promoters will arrive at a compromise on the cases filed in two Nevada courts.

Thus far, it has been a busy year with enviable wins for the Pinoy icon capped by his second kayo of the once feared Mexican ringster.

So devastating was Pacquiao’s victory that Morales had to sue for time while mulling over his retirement.

Keep in mind that there was an offer by Pacquiao for Morales to call it a day once it was made clear that Erik’s career will not go anywhere while the Pacman stays on in their weight class.

Morales’ workouts leading to the ‘finale’ with Pacquiao was excellent yet he fared badly when confronted by the hard hitting Filipino super-featherweight.

There was absolutely no doubting as to who was the boss as soon as Manny trotted out of the gates with a Secretariat-like start–banging away merrily at the gutsy Mexican until he cried ‘Uncle’ or was it Papa’.

Manny’s jabs, hooks and straights did Erik in, leading viewers to wonder how Erik could survive the heavy-handed pasting he took in the early rounds.

Well done!

Now, a new set of wannabes are raring to test the mettle of the newest king of the ring

The line forms to the right gentlemen.

But this will take awhile for the GenSan hitman will have to give her daughter a sweet hug, before going to the courts for a resolution of the latest imbroglio involving his warring promoters — Oscar de la Hoya vs Bob Arum.

And that’s how it is with the most sought-after campaigner in the super-featherweight division.

As of now, the courts have yet to rule on who has the right to promote Pacquaio’s next million-dollar fight.

January 21 2006 saw Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao score a scintillating stoppage of Eric ‘El Terrible’ Morales in a fight he was’nt expected to win.

At the time he knocked out the Mexican three-division champ, Pacman was a just a foe who unexpectedly dealt Tijuana’s fight mogul his first debacle.

Pacquiao was awesome as he tore to shreds Morales’ shaky defense in that memorable Las Vegas outing. .

Ten months earlier at the MGM Grand, Morales beat Paquiao despite Pacman’s torrid surge which fell short in the late rounds

For the third time in their storied calling, the Filipino ring idol and the ‘terrible Mex’ will slug it out at Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center to conclude their mutual hostility– with the winner claiming a commendable notice of acceptance as the new people’s champion.

Unlike in their previous meeting, Morales this time did a more rigorous session with his resurrected posse, boasting of a problem-free training regimen.

No agitating weight distress on their Nov. 18 mega-fight? Nada, insists El Mexicano, since a high-priced fine is dangling over his excess weight which even a dollar-rich Erik would find it stiff to meet.

The mauler from boxing crazy Mexico is on a mission to reclaim lost dignity caused by that irksome loss he suffered the last time he brawled with the Filipino hitman.

With his hot runs halted, (losing three of his last four fights), Morales is cautiously hanging to a thread of vengeance hoping for a win to ease the torment he has been plagued with since his embarrassing KO by the Filipino ring hero.

Manny went on a tear at the Holywood Wild Card gym where his gang of sparmates fed him a dose of hard drives for the tough grind ahead.

Brisk sparring sessions capped by enormous banging of the mitts, bags and crazy balls plus the obligatory sit-ups, push-ups and road works negotiated in his own ‘Otomi’ running grounds completed Pacquiao’s preparations.

Barring last minute hitches, Manny’s awaited win over Erik will net him the prized pudding of their trilogy which could rid him of a rival who once rudely interrupted his comeback.

As we near the riveting phase of the Grand Finale, any slip-ups Pacquiao makes will consign to oblivion the new fortune pledged by his new promoter Oscar de la Hoya.

And as we move closer to this intriguing finale, Morales’ band of loyalists are keeping a close tab on Oscar’s move to have his renowned skills incorporated in Manny’s dexterous arsenal.

That’s the crease that’s distressing the gutsy Mexican as he traverse the biggest challenge of his checkered course..

Keep in mind that Manny even without Oscar read Erik well in their last encounter.

Thus a new twist of concern for Erik as he lusts for revenge in a rubber bout that’s drawing exciting interests?

A cause for alarm for Senor Morales? Or a distressful annoyance that will go away once the antsy combatants pour it on in their ‘final combattere.?

The Pacman for sure will start fast with wicked left or right hooks mixing it well with his straights and potent body shots. El Terrible will meet him head-on with his savage counter-blows forcing Manny to cut loose with his sharper punches.This– to slow down a very vengeful Erik.

Morales can make this fascinating scenario happen if he’s been able to acquire in his truncated training his choice weapon of destruction.

It will take awhile to see this kind of a brutal yet lovely thriller again.

See ya at the fight.

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.