Morales warns he’s stronger, better

LAS VEGAS — Despite two major changes in his training set-up, Erik Morales is expecting the same kind of result in his battle with Filipino Manny Pacquiao on Saturday.

"All these changes are good. I think it was time for me to make changes. And I feel very good about it. I feel very strong," he said through his manager Fernando Beltran.

The skillful Mexican boxer was referring to his breakup with his father Jose Morales, and the entry of Jose Luis Lopez as his new trainer heading into this fight.

The old Morales was blamed for the boxer’s embarrassing loss to Zahir Raheem last September, and reports even said that he has yet to decide whether he would come to Vegas to watch the fight.

Morales and Pacquiao square off on Saturday evening (Sunday noon in Manila) at the Thomas and Mack Center, which is just a few big blocks away from the 2,700-room Wynn Resort and Casino.

The two fighters will meet each other in Wednesday’s press conference scheduled at noon.

For his previous fights, including the first one against Pacquiao, Morales trained at the Otomi mountains in Mexico. For this one, he trained at Querataro where it is warmer this time of the year.

"I’m in very good condition. I feel very strong," added Morales through his manager who said the former three-time champion trained for 10 weeks – shortly after the September loss and an October wedding.

"We’re prepared for anything in the ring. We did a great work in training," Morales said.

Morales did not comment on reports that he’s been having a very difficult time meeting the 130 lb weight limit for his second fight with Pacquiao.

Asked in Spanish by ABS-CBN correspondent Dyan Castillejo if the changes brought any type of a problem, the Mexican boxer said (also in Spanish), "No problem. Everything went smooth."

And how does he want the fight to end?

"I don’t think about that–how I want to win. I just want to win. I don’t think about that when I train. I just train and train," he added.

The great Mexican fighter arrived to a velvet-rope welcome at the Wynn Resort and Casino Tuesday evening, and was met by a big group of mediamen.

Morales took a short ride from Mexico on a private jet and was brought to the fabulous resort and casino on board a dark-colored Mercedes Benz.

The moment he stepped out of the car, he gladly walked straight to the mediamen who had waited for almost an hour. Morales came in dark pants, leather shoes and a winter jacket. He looked sharper too than when he came in for his last fight with the Filipino.

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Notes: Cris Aquino, not the famous actress, was not as fortunate this time as the Manny Pacquiao shirts and jackets which he planned to give away to friends here were held by US customs officials upon his arrival Tuesday evening. The bubbly, amiable Cris showed up at the Pacquiao suite at the Wynn Casino and Resort without his giveaways. Instead, he had a customs paper on his hand, showing that the 41 jackets and 16 shirts, contained in a "balikbayan" box have been held at the airport. Cris, a gun enthusiast, has watched most of Pacquiao’s eight fights here in the US. Out of his own pocket he brings along loads and loads of giveaways. He and Pacquiao have become very close friends and was granted ring access for the coming fight. He’ll be up there probably waving the Philippine flag. Cris was wearing a Pacquiao jacket upon check-in and said he was surprised when the customs official, who looked like a Mexican, ordered his box opened, and then all its contents confiscated.

He tried to explain that he has no plans of selling them–but to no avail. Cris, however, is confident that with some paper work, the goodies will be out before fight night.