Morales still overweight for duel with Pacman

Can he really make the weight?

While he felt "unbelievably strong" after weighing in at 142 lbs in Mexico City yesterday, Erik Morales’ chances of making the 130 lb limit for his Nov. 18 battle with Manny Pacquiao has remained in question.

As mandated by the World Boxing Council, the three-time world champion from Mexico was weighed a month before the fight, and was allowed to weigh no more than 143 lbs.

Morales tipped the scales at the Melia Hotel in Mexico City, clad only in striped boxing shorts, and in the presence of his father-trainer Jose Morales and WBC representative Mauricio Sulaiman.

Morales weighed 142 lbs. He now has exactly 27 days to shed off 12 lbs. While making the 130 lb limit is still possible, how he would remain in good condition climbing the ring is the big question.

Under the fight contract for the third and final showdown between the two sensational fighters, Morales will have to pay Pacquiao $500,000 if the Mexican weighs from 130.1 to 131 lbs.

And if Morales weighs more than that, Pacquiao will be paid $1 million and given the option of just taking the money and not fighting the crafty Mexican for the third and last time.

Pacquiao had previously said that if this happens, he would take the money, an easy P50 million, and still fight Morales. This way, he said, people wouldn’t think that he’s running away from the fight.

Pacquiao and Morales are guaranteed $3 million each for the fight. If Morales goes overboard, and Pacquiao decides to just take the $1 million and run, there’ll be no fight, and logically, no fight purse.

It was also announced that 10,000 tickets to the fight, set at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, have been sold, from as low as $50 to as high as $500. Other ticket prices are $100, $200 and $300.

When the fight contract was signed last July, Morales’ weight was severely questioned since he appeared to be weighing probably close to more than 160 lbs.

The Morales camp tried to lure Pacquiao to a catch weight of 135 lbs. But the Filipino insisted on 130 lbs, leading to the "give-me-a-million-and-will-fight-you" clause if Morales goes overweight.

Pacquiao never had problems with his weight as he prepared for this fight. Just the other day, his chief trainer Freddie Roach said the left-handed knockout artist is safe and sound at 135 lbs.

Morales, on the other hand, has worked so hard over the last three months. He stayed in Los Angeles for a rigid 60-day weight reduction program at the high-tech Velocity Training Center.

Then right after the Sept. 18 fight press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the 30-year-old Morales moved straight to this secluded training camp in the mountains of Otomi, two hours away from Mexico City.