By Johnny Ortiz

Photo © Chris Cozzone/FightWireImages

On November 18th at the Thomas Mack Center in Las Vegas, a rubber match will be fought between two of the most exciting boxers in boxing today. Erik "El Terrible" Morales and Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao will engage in what is being called, "The Grand Finale"/ El Gran Final," with one win apiece they will settle the score once and for all. In their first encounter on March 19, 2005, Erik proved on this night to be the better all around fighter winning a twelve round unanimous decision in a bitterly contested bout.

In January, the little dynamo from the Philippines returned the favor by stopping a physically tired Morales by way of a TKO in the tenth round. At the weigh-in of their second fight, Erik Morales looked gaunt and listless, alluding to the rumor that he had a very tough time making weight. Taking nothing away from the Pacman, he did his job, Morales tired badly going into the second half of the fight.

While I was in the fight game as a manager and trainer, I would have never let one of my boys go into a fight unless he was physically strong enough to get it done, win or lose. From the reports I have been getting, Erik is in primo condition, although he has his father back in his corner, I am impressed that he has former WBO welterweight champion Jose Luis "Maestro" Lopez as his trainer. No one knows better than Maestro how essential good conditioning is.

When I first saw Jose Luis destroy Yory Boy Campas to win the title at the Sports Arena on October 6, 1996, I sincerely thought that the huge puncher would have a long reign, but as in the case of so many potentially great champions, the good times got in the way. His was truly a waste of a tremendous talent. Jose Luis is the perfect guy to get Erik in the shape a fighter should be in going into a mega fight.

I picked Erik to win their first fight, I was appalled at the way he looked at the weigh-in for their second fight, it did not surprise me that Manny handed Erik his lunch. Kudos for Manny, he did things right, of course it doesn’t hurt to have one of boxing’s great trainers in Freddie Roach guiding his everyday training regimentation. I don’t care who the fighter is, if he’s trained by Freddie Roach, you can bet your bottom dollar that win, lose or draw, he will enter the ring in the best shape possible. With everything considered, this fight should go through the roof money wise. It is hard to conceive that it could outdo the other two, both as a fight and a pay for view event, but don’t bet against it. If you love boxing, you do not want to miss this one.

This fight figures to go to the fighter who mentally and physically wants it the most. At the latest media workout and conference call at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood, California, Manny had this to say: "I must win, our fight is bigger that the two of us because we carry the heart and soul of our nations, the pressure on us is enormous which is why I will be on the attack the second I hear the bell for round one. But there can only be one winner and that winner must be me and it will be."

On November 7th, Erik, who has admitted to often having trouble making weight, went on record saying: "I heard Pacquiao say that I’m an old man, that I’m done, we’ll see on November 18th. That’s why we go up in the ring, to prove our worth, and I’ll prove what I am on November 18. I feel really good, and I not only feel good, I have looked good in the gym. I’m ready to win, but this fight, it is a tough fight, it’s a difficult fight, but one that I’m going to win."

This week in Vegas, Erik had this to say, "I know his weaknesses I know his strengths. He has no defense he has no technique, he hasn’t changed, even when I tired during the later rounds in the second fight, I was able to land my punches. He is the same fighter he has always been. Also in Vegas, trainer Freddie Roach chimed in with: "The fight may be called ‘The Grand Finale,’ but come Saturday night, it will be ‘No Mas!’ for Morales!"

After giving it careful thought, I am leaning toward El Terrible. To win, Erik has to be in the best shape of his life, being in with Manny, he has no room for error, he must be physically fit enough to fight every minute of every round. Erick must use his five inch reach advantage by keeping Manny on the end of his jab while setting up his right hand, left hook and fast combinations. He must be ready to counterpunch whenever he sees an opening after a Manny miss, much in the manner Juan Manuel Marquez was able to do so successfully in his fight with Pacquiao.

On the other side of the coin, Manny Pacquiao is the quintessential seek and destroy kind of fighter, if he senses any kind of weakness, he will be on top of it. Manny must do what he has said he would do, attack, attack, attack. He must be careful of Erik’s vaunted counterpunching ability when he misses while not giving him too much respect. Knowing that Erick’s been in more wars and being three years younger, he must make Erick work. Manny has a penchant for throwing wild punches when frustrated, leaving him open to great counterpunchers such as Marquez and Morales.

Manny is the favorite going in, it just might be that he is reaching his fighting peak while Erick may be rounding the bend climaxing a brilliant career, but don’t count him out just yet, when you possess the kind of a fighting heart such as Morales, you can never count him out, that goes for both men. This is a fight that I will sit back and enjoy watching, with that said, may the best man win.

"El Terrible" vs. "The Pacman...you couldn’t ask for more!"