Erik eyes big win before rematch

LOS ANGELES – While Hector Velazquez traveled almost three hours by car from Tijuana, Mexico to Los Angeles, Erik Morales needed a much shorter time since he traveled on board a rented private jet.

Morales, the Mexican ring sensation who dealt Manny Pacquiao a heartbreaking loss at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last March, is here to fight American Zahir Raheem at the Staples Center on Saturday.

Pacquiao fights Velazquez on the same night. Both he and Morales are eyeing a big win that would pave the way for their awaited rematch scheduled Jan. 21 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Vegas.

Morales and Velazquez both stayed at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in downtown LA.

Morales arrived at the hotel shortly before six in the evening and was seen leaving the premises at around eight o’clock. He was back in two hours, accompanied by a couple of guys, hardly noticed by the other guests.

Through Top Rank Promotions officer Ricardo Jimenez, Morales said it’s going to be a tough fight for both him and Pacquiao, adding that he is looking forward to a rematch with the Filipino, he "wants the (other) Mexican to win." – Abac Cordero