Erik’s weight loss program awes guru

LAS VEGAS — Rafael Mendoza, who said last July that Erik Morales will have to cut his legs just to make 130, was stunned to see the Mexican boxer in such good shape.

"I can see that he’s gonna make the weight. By the way that he looks and by the way that he spoke. And when he speaks like that, he’s sure of what he’s doing," said Mendoza.

But Mendoza, who’s been in the boxing business for almost 50 years now, said making the weight is not an assurance that Morales will be as quick and as strong as he wants to.

Mendoza was at Thursday’s press conference.

"It’s one thing to make the weight and it’s another thing to perform. It takes a lot of energy to make the weight," said Mendoza, who was in Manila last July as Oscar Larios’ agent.

Still, Mendoza said he’s impressed by the way Morales has trimmed down over the last four months. The former three-time world champion reportedly weighed 165 last July.

"I never believed that he will make it. And he worked like a monk for four months. But again, after he makes the weight, you can never tell what’s gonna happen," Mendoza said.

"Making the weight is not an assurance. Making the weight is just making the weight. But to fight Manny Pacquiao, Erik is going to need speed and stamina.

"The best weapon of Pacquiao is not his power, but his speed. His power is just standard. That’s what Larios told me. So when Larios went down he got up quickly."

Larios faced Pacquiao last July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum. He was knocked down in the seventh and 12th rounds but managed to finish the fight. It was a unanimous decision for Pacquiao.

Mendoza said if Morales manages to keep his stamina after losing so much weight, then the coming fight at the Thomas and Mack Center might just go the distance.

"It could be a very long night," he said. — Abac Cordero