Purse share: Morales $3M, Pacman $2M

LOS ANGELES — How much is Erik Morales getting for this fight?

According to Manny Pacquiao himself, the Mexican gladiator whom he’s up against this coming weekend in Las Vegas is getting the lion’s share of the purse. He said Morales will receive $3 million.

Pacquiao said Wynn Las Vegas, the official hotel and main sponsor of the 12-round battle at the Thomas and Mack Center, shelled out $5 million for the fighters’ purse. $2 million goes to the Filipino.

The fight promoter is Top Rank, and its owner, Bob Arum, is Morales’ promoter, too.

Although there’s no official word on the Morales purse, Pacquiao said it’s quite understandable that Morales gets a bigger purse despite the fact that he lost his last fight to Zahir Raheem last September at the Staples Center.

"Morales is indeed getting $3 million. But it’s okay," Pacquiao said.

Morales is a former three-time world champion, and he defeated Pacquiao in their first meeting last March at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas via a unanimous decision.

Pacquiao got $1.75 million for that fight, and Morales probably at least $2 million.

Aside from the bigger purse, Pacquiao said Morales is also getting more from the pay-per-view sales of the fight. The Mexican gets 60 percent and the Filipino southpaw 40 percent.

Pacquiao, however, isn’t complaining.

"That’s the way it should be. But if I beat him in our rematch, I think I should get the bigger purse. And it should be a 50-50 take on the pay-per-view sales," said Pacquiao.