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Saturday, April 01, 2006
Roach insists: Manny won't fight at 131
By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
IF ERIK Morales continues to play hard to get, his desire of having a third fight with Manny Pacquiao is a remote possibility.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's famed American trainer, made this clear in an interview with Brad Cooney of BoxingTalk, insisting that Morales fight Pacquiao at 130 pounds and not at 131 as desired by the Mexican.
"Manny will not fight at 131, or even at 130.5. The weight is 130, and if Morales doesn't want to fight at 130 pounds we will fight (Marco Antonio) Barrera next," Roach told Cooney.
Roach said Barrera is the best opponent at 130 lbs today and didn't hide his desire of having Pacquiao inside the ring with the Baby Faced Assassin again.
Barrera, the World Boxing Council super featherweight champion, earlier challenged Pacquiao to a world title fight, but the Pacquiao camp initially turned this down as he is scheduled to fight Oscar Larios next.
Besides, Pacquiao has a contract clause with Morales for a third fight after they faced back in January, a bout won by the Filipino boxer via a 10th round TKO.
The third fight with Morales is tentatively scheduled in September after Pacquiao fights Larios on July 2.
However, there is no formal agreement to date yet regarding the third fight as the Morales camp is insisting it will be held at a catch weight of 131 lbs.
Roach hinted of a possibility of having Pacquiao fight Barrera next if nothing comes out of the negotiations with Morales.
Barrera also lost to Pacquiao via a 110th round TKO back in 2003 in one-sided contest held in San Antonio.
"Barrera is making a lot of noise right now. Barrera is the best opponent out there," Roach said.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (April 1, 2006 issue)
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