Arum eager to stage trilogy

Promoter Bob Arum is pushing for a rubber match between Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales in June but plans to complete a trilogy may be delayed pending results of the Mexican’s medical tests this week, a source from Top Rank said yesterday.

Arum reportedly spoke to Pacquiao’s manager Shelly Finkel in a conference call the other day reminding him of a return bout clause in the contract the fighters signed for their Las Vegas fight last week.

Arum was in Las Vegas and Finkel, in New York when the call came through. Also hooked up in the call were Pacquiao’s lawyers Keith Davdison and Nicholas Khan in Los Angeles.

"Arum was pissed because he heard of plans that Pacquiao might fight somebody else next," said the source. "But Finkel assured him Pacquiao would keep his commitment for a third match. It all depends on what Morales’ doctors recommend. If the doctors order an eight-month rest, then there’s no way the third fight can be held in June."

Morales was rushed to the Valley Hospital for a CT-scan immediately after he was stopped by Pacquiao in the 10th round at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas last Jan. 21. Arum said it was a mandatory measure imposed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on knockout victims and nothing to be alarmed about.

Morales took a severe beating in the fight and walked out of the ring with his face badly disfigured. There were unconfirmed reports he suffered two cracked ribs and a broken nose.

The source from Top Rank said Arum tried to convince Finkel to agree to a rubber match with a "catch" weight of 133 pounds, three over the superfeatherweight limit. Finkel, however, said Pacquiao will not fight beyond 130. Arum initially suggested the lightweight limit of 135 for the third bout.

"It looks like if a third match will be held, Morales must agree to fight at 130," said the source. "Otherwise, no dice."

If Morales is ordered by doctors to take a prolonged rest, Pacquiao will likely face a tune-up opponent in June. Where it will be staged is a question mark but a source said the fight will be a pay-per-view event.

"If Pacquiao’s next fight will be held in Manila and it’s a pay-per-view event, the timing will be a problem because the US audience will demand a prime time schedule on a weekend," said a source. "That means it will be held in the morning in Manila to be shown at night in the US."

Morales absorbed a barrage of power blows from Pacquiao in their rematch. Pacquiao landed 171 power shots to Morales’ 107. In terms of total punches, Pacquiao connected on 196 to Morales‚ 184. Morales outjabbed Pacquiao, 77-25, but was way behind in the power department.

In their first fight, Pacquiao also had the edge in power shots, 183-169, but Morales landed more blows overall, 265-217. Morales won via a unanimous decision as the three judges turned in identical 115-113 scorecards, meaning if Pacquiao won just one more round, it would’ve been a draw.

World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera is waiting in the wings as a possible option but he’s booked to face International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight titlist Jesus Chavez on March 25 in Las Vegas. Chavez won the IBF crown on a knockout over Leavander Johnson who later died of injuries he suffered in the fight.

If Barrera beats Chavez, he’ll be lined up to meet Pacquiao in a grudge rematch in November or early next year.

Another option is for Pacquiao to battle Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in another grudge rematch. Marquez has reportedly said he will fight Pacquiao anywhere, including Manila. He is slated to fight World Boxing Association featherweight champion Chris John of Indonesia in Tenggarong City, Borneo, on March 4.