Two more fights lined up

LOS ANGELES – If everything works out well, Manny Pacquiao and his millions of fans can look forward to two more fights this year.

His American manager, Shelly Finkel, said in a short conversation the day after Pacquaio’s recent bout with Erik Morales that he will try to line up a "comeback" fight for his ward by summer and another one, probably a "rematch," by the end of the year.

Inside the elevator of the MGM Grand, Finkel, who once handled the career of legendary Mike Tyson, talked about immediate plans for Pacquiao, the heavy favorite who lost a bloody unanimous decision to the Mexican craftsman last Saturday in Las Vegas.

"Rest. That’s the first thing he’ll have to do," said Finkel, who replaced Marty Elorde and signed a two-year contract with Pacquiao a couple of months ago.

"He’ll have to rest his body. Then maybe he can fight another one by summer and then look for a rematch," he added.

"We can do a rematch with Morales and maybe we can do better. If not for the cut and with the right gloves, Manny Pacquiao could have beaten him," said Finkel.

The controversy surrounding the gloves used in the bout stemmed from a clause in the fight contract that both boxers would wear the Japanese-made Winning, which is preferred by boxers with less durable hands. It’s an 8-ounce glove with thicker padding on the punching area. It’s Morales favorite glove.

Murad Muhammad, Pacquiao’s promoter, reportedly signed the promotional contract regarding the kind of gloves to be used. It is only in title fights that the champion is allowed to decide on the type of gloves.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, prefers the Mexican-made Cleto Reyes, which is preferred by the heavy punchers. Also an 8-ounce glove with thinner padding on the punching area and goes thicker around the wrist. It’s Pacquiao’s favorite glove.

Many believe that that Winning took some power off Pacquiao’s punches and at the same time protected Morales’ hands during the 12-round slugfest.

"It’s a pillow," said Pacquiao’s Australian conditioning coach Justine Fortune of the gloves used in the fight watched by more than 14,000 at the MGM and hundreds of millions worldwide.

A rematch with Morales, said Finkel, will be highly considered although an executive from Top Rank, which promoted the recent bout dubbed "Con Todo or Coming with Everything," said a Pacquiao rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez is also a great possibility.

Pacquiao and Marquez fought to classic draw last May, also at the fabulous MGM Grand casino-hotel. Pacquiao floored the Mexican thrice in the first round of that bout but failed to finish him off, leading to a controversial split draw.

Pacquiao is still in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world, and was scheduled to head back to Los Angeles Tuesday. He’ll be back home by Easter Sunday.

Notes: After Saturday’s bout, Manny Pacquiao was brought to the hospital to have his eyes checked. A total of 15 stitches were needed to close the nasty cut over his right eye. It was inflicted by a Morales headbutt –accidental or otherwise–in the fifth round and contributed heavily to his loss. Pacquiao underwent the normal checkup for boxers coming out of a furious battle. The bill: $8,000 or roughly P440,000. He was scheduled for another visit with a plastic surgeon either in Las Vegas or Los Angeles. Then he’ll fly back to Manila with his wife Jinkee, and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez. Filipino mediamen who covered Pacquiao’s fight in Las Vegas were Recah Trinidad, Nick Giongco, Ronnie Nathanielzs, Homer Sayson, Dyan Castillejo, Jackie Castillejo and Ging Reyes with their crew. It’s been one hell of a coverage–definitely one to remember.