Morales to recall prodigal father?

After losing to Manny Pacquiao on a knockout last month, Erik Morales will probably sack trainer Jose Luis Lopez and recall his father Jose who was in El Terrible’s corner for 48 wins until the setback to Zahir Raheem last September.

Morales’ father, known as Olivaritos for his resemblance to Mexican ring legend Ruben Olivares, was blamed for the defeat to Raheem and replaced by Lopez for the Pacquiao rematch last month. The termination ended a long partnership that reaped three world titles in three weight divisions for Morales.

Lopez failed miserably in his first outing as Morales’ trainer. Morales was bludgeoned into submission by Pacquiao and it was his worst loss ever. He had never been knocked out in 51 previous fights since turning pro in 1993.

Morales, 29, has pointed the finger at Lopez for not preparing him adequately for Pacquiao.

"Erik believes that he trained wrong," said promoter Bob Arum.

Morales claimed the split with his father was amicable. But Morales’ father publicly denied it, blaming his son’s manager Fernando Beltran for instigating the removal. Morales’ father had a foreboding his son would lose to Pacquiao.

"The dismissal of his dad as trainer had to have had some impact," wrote Norm Frauenheim of the Arizona Republic. "Jose Morales complained to the Mexican press that his son wasn’t preparing properly in the weeks before the fight. There was little time for a new trainer and a veteran fighter to develop any kind of relationship. There was no test run, no tune-up. There was only Pacquiao at or near his prime."

If Morales hires another trainer, the shift could result in another catastrophe particularly if he will go straight to a rubber match without a tune-up, warned Frauenheim.

Pacquiao is being lined up to face either former World Boxing Council superbantamweight champion Oscar Larios or former International Boxing Federation lightweight titlist Javier Jauregui, both Mexicans, in a tune-up in May in Manila before taking on Morales in a third fight in Las Vegas on Sept. 16.

Morales, however, will not be able to engage in a tune-up because he’s still recovering from the punishment he absorbed from Pacquiao. It will take at least two months of inactivity for Morales to recuperate from the beating. Pacquiao, in contrast, suffered little damage.

Arum has confirmed that Morales will not see action in a tune-up.

The speculation is Morales’ father will be back in his corner for what could be his swan song. If Morales loses to Pacquiao again, it will likely mean curtains for his career. Morales has now lost three of his last four fights. Another defeat to Pacquiao will be irreparable.