Pacquiao-Morales II almost did not push through

IT will be exactly two weeks from now when Manny Pacquiao climbs the ring opposite Erik Morales in a blockbuster rematch expected to usher a series of big bouts for the new year. But unknown to many, the return bout between two of the biggest stars in the super-featherweight division almost didn't push through after Morales failed to keep his own end of the bargain during a big promotional fight which Bob Arum's Top Rank presented at the Staples Center in Los Angeles California on September 10. Pacquiao's American manager, Shelly Finkel, and promoter Gary Shaw were both having second thoughts back then about the possibility of the Filipino ring sensation fighting again the Mexican three-time world champion shortly following Morales' stunning decision loss to Olympian Zahir Raheem. "Shelly and I had a discussionthat night," admitted Shaw before a teleconference held in California to promote the highly-anticipated rematch set January 21 (January 22 Manila time) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. "It was up in the air at that moment," said Finkel. The fight card, which also included Pacquiao taking on Mexican Hector Velasquez in a non-title bout, was meant as tune up matches for the two hard-hitting fighters leading to their expected rematch after engaging in a toe-to-toe slugfest at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas March 19 of last year which Morales won by a unanimous but close decision. Unlike Morales, the Filipino southpaw posted a convincing victory over Velasquez whom he knocked out in the sixth round. For a while, Finkel and Shaw tinkered of fighting instead Juan Marco Antonio Barrera or Juan Manuel Marquez. "We would have looked at the regular guys, whether it be you know, a rematch with Barrera, a rematch with Marquez or whoever," said Finkel. In the end, Pacquiao's handlers decided Morales was still the best choice. "It happened too quick. But we felt it was the best thing for Manny to avenge the loss and then hopefully, he does that and we can go on to a third match or a Barrera fight or whoever else," Finkel said. The decision of the Morales camp to agree to the rematch made it easier for Finkel and Shaw to sign the dotted line. "We just thought that they (Morales) may not want it and that they may want to take an easier fight. So we were looking at other options," said Finkel. "But they wanted it and we wanted it." Now the stage is set for one of the year's biggest fights, the second installment of what was voted by the World Boxing Council (WBC) as the Most Dramatic Fight of 2005. Despite Morales coming off a lackluster performance, Shaw believes the rematch still has the making of an epic. "For sure it would have been better if Morales won (over Raheem)," said Shaw. "But I don't think it will affect the Pay-Per-View because the first fight was so great that I think the fans know they are going to get the same fight right back again. Obviously, we hope with a different result." The first Pacquiao-Morales fight drew a record audience of 375,000 household on PPV.