It’s Judgment Day

LAS VEGAS — It will be one showdown expected to be remembered in time, the final chapter of a drama-fraught trilogy between two classic fighters who carry the dreams and hopes of their peoples.

Filipino prizefight demigod Manny Pacquiao and seasoned Mexican warrior Erik Morales clash in the final fight of their bitter rivalry that started in March 2005, relived in a brawl 10 months ago and will come to a fitting end Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas before a sellout crowd of 17,000 and millions more on television the world over.

On the eve of the fight of his life, in the luxury of his expensive, two-bedroom suite at Wynn Hotel, Pacquiao finally declared all-out war against Morales.

"Suntukan na (It’s time to fight)," said the 27-year-old slugger who, until the official weigh-in earlier in the day, had chosen to speak well of his 30-year-old opponent also known as "El Terrible."

Scheduled for 12 rounds, the bout, actually the third and last between the two stylish fighters, is set Saturday evening.

The entire Filipino nation will stand still — the streets deserted and crime rate near zero — the moment Pacquiao, in his fiery attire, marches into the ring carrying the hopes of his countrymen on his shoulders.

For these two super-featherweights, who have figured in two classic fights, with Morales winning the first and Pacquiao the second, the third or what they call "The Grand Finale" - "La Gran Final" - will be the best one yet.

This early, the Pacquiao-Morales rivalry is being compared to the greatest trilogies of all time.

"This is it. Ito na ang hinihintay natin (This is what we’ve been waiting for). Magka-alaman na kung totoo ang sinasabi niya (Let’s see if what he’s been saying is true)," Pacquiao said.

Morales, in Thursday’s press conference, vowed to beat Pacquiao, avenge a 10-round beating against the Filipino last January, and hopefully revive what is described as a "sagging career."

"I’m going to win," said Morales, a former champion in three different divisions and a future Hall of Famer. He is certainly one of the greatest Mexican boxers ever.

Pacquiao and Morales stood side-by-side, but not actually face-to-face, during the weigh-in. They shook hands when they were weighed at the Wynn Hotel for the rematch last January.

"Erik is in one-hundred percent condition. He looks so skinny but I don’t know if he has the strength. We don’t know if he’s strong. But he’s in shape," said Pacquiao.

For this fight to prosper, Morales had to endure four months of hell, four months of trying to shed off close to 30 pounds. At the official weigh-in, both fighters were at 129, one under the limit.

For this fight, his third for the year counting his big win over Oscar Larios last July, Pacquiao will receive a guaranteed purse of $3 million (P150 million), excluding his shares on TV and merchandise.

Morales, who has never fought since that loss to Pacquiao, will receive the same amount. He has lost three of his last four, and another could turn his purse into his own retirement pay.

"I’m not going to promise I’m going to knock him out, but I’m doing my best to make people happy," said Pacquiao, who sparred 150 rounds during training. "I’m very confident to win this fight, but I know Morales is still a good fighter."

Morales, who has his father Jose back in his corner after missing him in the second fight, is not one to lack confidence, either.

"I’m going to win, and I have two motivations," Morales said. "One is for the fans who want me to win. And two, for the guys who don’t want me to win. They make me work harder."

Raising the stakes higher, the World Boxing Council recently ordered reigning 130-pound champion Marco Antonio Barrera to face the winner of this fight.

Barrera arrived in Vegas Friday. He will be at ringside Saturday, watching Pacquiao and Morales do their last dance.

Pacquiao has beaten Barrera, while Morales’ own trilogy with the WBC champ is already part of boxing lore. –with AP report