BOXING: MORALES, PACQUIAO FIGHT AT STAPLES.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES Boxing

Erik Morales isn't thrilled that, in his mind, he hasn't received proper credit for defeating Manny Pacquiao by decision last March 19 in a super featherweight fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Not that Pacquiao stood up after the fight and made myriad excuses. He did say the cut he sustained over his right eye in the fifth round impaired his vision, and that was why he got caught with so many left hooks.

Pacquiao also was in the middle of an emotional fray with his promoter, Murad Muhammad, from whom he recently was granted his release in court.

There were many things Pacquiao and Muhammad were verbally sparring about before the fight. For one thing, Muhammad took the suite Pacquiao was staying in at the MGM Grand and filled it with dignitaries from Pacquiao's native Philippines.

Pacquiao, who slept on the floor in a hut while growing up with his parents and three siblings, slept on the floor of his suite the night before he fought Morales.

Pacquiao recently signed with a new promoter, Gary Shaw, and is said to again be focused.

That's why Morales is hopeful both he and Pacquiao get victories in their bouts Saturday at Staples Center. If they do, they will meet in a rematch, probably in December.

Morales (48-2, 34 KOs) will take on Zahir Raheem (26-1, 16 KOs) in the lightweight fight; Pacquiao (39-3-2, 31 KOs) will go against Hector Velazquez (42-10-2, 31 KOs) in the super featherweight co-feature. Both fights are scheduled for 12 rounds, and HBO will televise.

``Some people feel that Pacquiao was not at his best when I beat him, but I think he was,'' said Morales, of Tijuana, who will be fighting for the first time as a lightweight. ``But if there are some doubts about my victory last spring, I will erase them in a second fight.

``I thought I won clearly the first time and will do so again.''

--Morales wants to make history: A rematch with Pacquiao would have to come at super featherweight, and Morales said he would have no problem moving back down. Morales said he would then want to move back up to the 135-pound lightweight division so he can win another world championship.

He already has won world titles in the 122-, 126- and 130-pound divisions. No Mexico-born fighter has ever won titles in four weight classes.

``I think the opportunity is there for me to win a fourth world title, and I would like to do it,'' Morales, 29, said. ``Not many people get the chance to write history, and I would love to do it.''

--Fourth fight with Barrera? There is one thing that could, temporarily, stop Morales from moving back up to 135 after a rematch with Pacquiao - a fourth fight with his nemesis, Marco Antonio Barrera.

Barrera, the World Boxing Council 130-pound champion, probably would not want to move up to 135, so Morales would have to fight him at 130.

``I have my own path drawn out, as far as my career goes, and I don't depend on anyone else,'' Morales said. ``If our paths happen to cross, and the public really wants to see a fourth fight between us, I would be very happy to give it to them.''

--Pacquiao: More than a fighter: Pacquiao recently starred in a movie made in the Philippines. ``Lisensyadong Kamao'' will premiere Wednesday in his native country, but he will attend somewhat of a Hollywood premiere Wednesday at the Philippine consulate in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao plays the lead role of a boxer, Bruce Lerio, who comes to Manila in search of greener pastures.

Pacquiao, after Saturday's fight, also is going to lay down some background vocals to a song written for him by the hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas. Band member and countryman Apl.de.Ap wrote the song.

FIGHT SCHEDULE

Saturday

--At Staples Center, Los Angeles (HBO): Eric Ortiz, Mexico, vs. Brian Viloria, Waipahu, Hawaii, 12, for WBC light flyweight title.

At Great Plaza, Philadelphia: Terrence Lewis, Philadelphia, vs. Maurice Wheeler, Philadelphia, 12, for Lewis' USBA heavyweight title.

Sept. 16

At the Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Ga.: Sultan Ibragimov, Miami, vs. Friday Ahunanya, Las Vegas, 12, for Ibragimov's WBO Asia/Pacific heavyweight title; Ebo Elder, Newnan, Ga., vs. Prawet Singwangcha, Thailand, 12, in WBA lightweight title-elimination bout; Fernando Angulo, Venezuela, vs. Luis Arceo, Mexico, 12, for Angulo's WBA Fedelatin lightweight title; Merhav Mohar, Brooklyn, N.Y., vs. Xavier Tolliver, Arapahoe, N.C., 10, for vacant WBC Fecarbox welterweight title.

Sept. 17

At MGM Grand, Las Vegas (PPV): Marco Antonio Barrera, Mexico, vs. Robbie Peden, Australia, 12, for Barrera's WBC and Peden's IBF super featherweight titles; Leavander Johnson, Atlantic City, N.J., vs. Jesus Chavez, Mexico, 12, for Johnson's IBF lightweight title.

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FIGHT SCHEDULE (see text)