Pacquiao: I'll beat Morales

Filipino sports hero Manny Pacquiao expressed confidence of beating Mexican star Erik Morales in their hotly-anticipated rematch scheduled to be held on January 21, 2006. No venue has been set yet for the grudge return bout, but it will be telecast on HBO Pay-Per-View.

"Tan-aw ko pildihon nako siya. Di ko kasulti kon ako ba siyang ma-knockout, basta pildihon nako siya," said Pacquiao in a sumptuous dinner tendered for him by Cebuano topnotch promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud the other night at the posh East Ocean restaurant in Banilad.

Accompanied by his lovely wife Jinkee, this is the third time that Pacquiao visited Cebu - all upon the invitation of Salud - since his phenomenal rise to boxing stardom that started when he came up with a brutal 11th round stoppage of Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in November 2003.

As usual, Pacquiao was mobbed by adoring fans, but the 27-year-old 'People's Champion' was generous and patient enough to pose for photo ops, sign autographs and shake hands with his diehard Cebuano followers led by no less than Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

With revenge on top of his mind, the General Santos City fighter assured no stone will be left unturned as far as his preparations for his forthcoming clash with Morales are concerned.

"Mas higpit ang buhaton nako nga preparasyon sa among rematch. Seguro mag-training ko mga unom o walo ka semana kay gusto ko nga makabalos," said Pacquiao.

Despite a deep cut over his eye in the fifth round, Pacquiao put up a courageous stand - albeit for a losing cause - against Morales during their March 19, 2005 encounter at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In their previous bouts considered as a tune-up preparatory for a grand rematch, Pacquiao and Morales met contrasting fates.

While Pacman did a good job in knocking out Mexican Hector Velasquez in the sixth round in last week's "Double Trouble" card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Morales was an object of disappointment, losing to 1996 USA Olympian Zahir Raheem by unanimous decision in their lightweight showdown.

Despite the stunning setback though, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum announced the Pacquiao-Morales rematch is still on.

Pacquiao said before embarking on a rigorous training, he would like to spend quality time with his family. He is set to star for another movie, possibly with Fil-American singer Jasmine Trias, in October. Pacquiao also confirmed he will be at the ringside when WBA top contender Eriberto "Ioka" Gejon, Jr. of RWS Stable challenges Japanese champion Yutaka Niida for the WBA minimumweight crown on September 25 at The Arena in Yokohama, Japan.

On October 6, Pacquiao will leave for the US to cheer for his younger brother Bobby, the reigning WBC Continental Americas super featherweight champion, who gears up for a career-defining fight against Mexican hitman Carlos "Famoso" Hernandez in an official WBC elimination bout on October 8 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The Pacquiao-Hernandez rumble serves as the supporting main event of the WBC/WBO lightweight unification bout between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo.

"Sa tingin ko mahihirapan si Bobby kasi magaling si Hernandez. Sabi ko lang sa kanya dapat hindi matakot sa laban. Sana manalo siya at saka si Gejon, para naman madagdagan pa ang karangalan na naibigay ng mga Pinoy boxers sa ating bayan," said Pacquiao.