Wiry but weary Erik arrives in Vegas

LAS VEGAS — His eyes looked sharp. But his body? Well, it’s really hard to tell.

Erik Morales, the brown-eyed Mexican who’s been to so many boxing wars, set foot at the MGM Grand here Tuesday evening in time for his scheduled blockbuster fight against Manny Pacquaio on Saturday.

His face looked thin and lined while his body looked frail from some angles. He also looked tired from the plane ride from Mexico City to Nogales, Arizona where his entourage was held by US immigration for close to two hours.

Once cleared, Morales and his group pushed for Las Vegas on board the 19-seater private jet owned by the boxer.

The 28-year-old native of Tijuana arrived at the MGM Grand on a gray stretch limousine and under the biting cold. He went straight into the lobby, surrounded by a pack of journalists, Top Rank officials and fans.

Wearing a light blue jacket, black pants, blue shoes and his winsome smile, Morales fielded questions from sports writers–both Mexican and Filipino. He had pictures taken with fans, too, and signed autographs before entering a VIP room.

Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN, who speaks fluent Spanish, cornered Morales and managed to squeeze every bit of information as she could from the Mexican ring idol. Morales does not speak English.

"He looked weak and frail," observed Castillejo.

But looks can always be deceiving.

During the interview, one couldn’t help but notice the fact that Morales indeed had a difficult time making the 130 lb weight limit. He weighed 144 lbs when he lost his WBC and WBA super-featherweight titles to fellow Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera last November.

"But I’m satisfied with my condition and I’ve been working hard," he told Castillejo, a former tennis champion in the Philippines who’s here to cover the bout. "I’m also very happy with my physical condition."

Morales couldn’t tell if the bout, to be viewed by close to 14,000 fans at the Grand Garden Arena and by millions on pay-per-view would last the scheduled 12 rounds.

"I’m not sure but it’s going to be a good fight," he said.

Asked if this would be his most difficult fight, he said "no, because all fights are difficult." And asked if he had any message to Pacquiao, once again, he said "no."

"But Pacquiao is a good fighter. He’s a good fighter," added Morales.

His manager, Fernando Beltran, did a little bit of talking, too, explaining how US immigration officers asked for so many papers before they were officially welcomed in.

Asked to comment on Morales’ condition, he walked away, but said: "He’ll come out fighting. Because he’s got a lot of balls. And a lot of heart." — Abac Cordero