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The Battle, Morales vs. Pacquiao 2
Their first battle was an epic. Now Morales and Pacquiao meet again to kick off the new year. Saturday, January 21, 2006. Live on Pay-Per-View.
Las Vegas, NV - The super featherweight division's two most powerful forces -- three-time world champion Erik "El Terrible" Morales and two-time world titlist Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao collide again in "The Battle!" -- the sequel to their exciting March 19, 2005 championship fight. Morales vs. Pacquiao 2, for the WBC International super featherweight title, takes place on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Wynn Las Vegas, 'The Battle' -- Morales vs. Pacquiao 2 -- will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.
"This is what boxing is all about - two great champions who always give it their all, each and every second in the ring," said Bob Arum of Top Rank.
"It's great to kick off 2006 with a fight as exciting as the rematch between Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao," said Mark Taffet, HBO Senior Vice President of Sports Operators and Pay-Per-View. "January 21 figures to be an action-filled, quality night for pay-per-view boxing fans."
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I don’t think he’s going to learn how to do it any better than from the first time. His problem is not going forward because he is good coming forward. But his problem is going backward and that is what I will do, back up Pacquiao all night long.
- Erik Morales
Morales, 48-3, 34 KOs, of Tijuana, and Pacquiao, 40-3-2, 31 KOs of The Philippines, are world-rated No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, by the WBC.
Morales is universally regarded as one of the best boxers in the world and has fought in sensational battles for years. The former WBC super bantamweight champion, two-time WBC featherweight champion and WBC super featherweight champion, Morales became the second fighter from Mexico to win world titles in three weight divisions - Julio Cesar Chavez was the first.
Morales' Hall of Fame caliber resume boasts victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Carlos Hernandez, Jesus 'El Matador' Chavez, Guty Espadas, Paulie Ayala, Injin Chi, Kevin Kelley, Wayne McCullough, Junior Jones, Jose Luis Bueno, Daniel Zaragoza and Hector Acero-Sanchez.
On March 19, Morales scored a scorching points victory over Pacquiao in a riveting bout before 14,623 frenzied fans in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao started fast and furious against Morales in a battle which brought fight fans to their feet many times. Pacquiao won the first and third rounds on all scorecards as Morales weathered a huge firestorm.
Pacquiao won the seventh round on two scorecards and swept the ninth and 12th rounds. Morales won the fight by the narrowest of margins, 115-113 on all scorecards.
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Outside of the ring, I respect Morales very much. But once inside the ring, I don’t respect him. I will control him with my jab this time around. On January 21, you will see the real Manny Pacquiao.
- Manny Pacquiao
"They told me he was fast and that he was a tough guy," said Morales. "He sure was…."
Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach contended his fighter was hampered by the use of the wrong gloves.
"We had to use a certain brand according to our contract," Roach said. "That's not the case this time. We're using Reyes, a punchers glove."
Pacquiao is a phenomenal performer in the ring having fought at a championship level for years. An aggressive left-handed slugger, Pacquiao is recognized as one of the hardest punchers at any weight. He is 14-1-2 in his last 17 bouts, with all wins by knockout including a sensational stoppage of Marco Antonio Barrera.
The Morales vs. Pacquiao 2 pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT, on January 21, has a suggest retail price of $44.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to over 50 million homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD.
"THE BATTLE" pacman-morales 2 (jan 22 sunday phil time)
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