Trainer sets fight plan for Morales

LAS VEGAS – The Erik Morales you saw last September will not be the same Erik Morales you’ll see on Saturday.

Jose Luis Lopez, the brand-new trainer of the great Mexican fighter, issued this warning Thursday or two days before Morales climbs the ring against Manny Pacquiao at the Thomas and Mack Center here.

The 58-year-old Lopez, who takes the place of Morales’ father Jose in the Mexican corner, faced the media in a round-table discussion, then talked about some of the changes in Morales’ training and how he hopes they would lead them to victory.

The Moraleses had a falling out after the 29-year-old three-time former world champion absorbed an embarrassing loss to Olympian Zahir Raheem at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Nobody expected Morales to lose that fight.

"He looked slow and stationary against Raheem. That’s not the kind of fighter you will see on Saturday," said Lopez, who was tapped to help Morales train for the coming fight last November.

Lopez said he actually felt hesitant when he was offered the job.

"I was a little reluctant because this guy is good. So what can you help him or what can you teach him? I wasn’t gonna make any changes in his style. His style is his style," said Lopez.

So when he accepted the job, he had a 90-minute talk with Morales. Lopez made it clear that he’ll be the one, and not the boxer, who will run the camp at Querataro.

Morales obliged.

"I was very surprised because he was very professional. Everything I set up he’s done. Everything I wanted him to do he gets it done. I was very surprised because he was very professional," he said.

Lopez said he’d seen Pacquiao fight and sounded quite impressed with the Filipino.

"I think Pacquiao is a great fighter who’s always in great condition. So that’s what you (Morales) will be up against - a really strong fighter who can go 12 rounds," said the Mexican trainer.

"And when I heard Morales was running late in the day sometimes at noon and he was training at 7 at night, I had that changed. That’s not something I want boxers to do because you have to let your body rest and recuperate at night.

"What I made him do was run at 7:30 and be at the gym at 4:30. And we put him through a lot of tests during training and the condition we wanted him to get into he was even over. We really worked on his strength and he’s got some speed, too. But more than anything it’s his mindset. I think he’s more relaxed," Lopez said.

Lopez said some changes will take place during the fight.

"What I noticed in his previous fights was that there was some yelling in the corner. I don’t think there should be yelling in the corner and now he feels liberated from all that – the pressure of having his dad at his corner," he added.

"That’s why he’s more relaxed now." — Abac Cordero