Football
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer 19y

Morales wants Corrales-Castillo II winner

Junior lightweight star Erik Morales has big plans that include getting bigger.

"El Terrible" already has won world titles as a dominant fighter at 122, 126 and 130 pounds, all while facing elite opposition. But Morales, who grew up in an apartment over a boxing gym in Tijuana, knows the sport's history and aspires to add to an already hefty legacy.

That's why, with all due respect to Zahir Raheem and Manny Pacquiao, Morales is planning to become the first Mexican fighter to win world titles in four weight classes. He's shooting for glory at 135 pounds, too.

"I'm proud of what I have done already but I want to do more," Morales said. "I want to do something great at 135. I want to give the fans as much as I can for as long as I can. I want to make more great fights and win more championships."

Of course, before a lightweight title can become reality, Morales (48-2, 34 KOs) will have to take care of business against Raheem (26-1, 16 KOs) on Saturday night (HBO, 9:45 p.m. ET) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Morales, who turned 29 on Sept. 1, would then need to beat Manny Pacquiao for a second time. Pacquiao (39-3-2, 31 KOs) is also on Saturday's "Double Trouble" card against Hector Velazquez (42-10-2, 31 KOs), the idea being that if Morales and Pacquiao both win, they'll face each other in January in a rematch of their fabulous March brawl.

It's important for me to find out how I feel at 135 pounds and to see how I do because I want to be lightweight champion.
Erik Morales

Morales is testing the lightweight waters against Raheem, a slick boxer who was on the 1996 U.S. Olympic team. For a Pacquiao rematch, Morales said he'll return to junior lightweight for one more fight before making 135 pounds his permanent home.

"It's important for me to find out how I feel at 135 pounds and to see how I do because I want to be lightweight champion," Morales said of his test against Raheem.

"I just feel better overall at 135. I don't have to worry about dieting and I can just focus on boxing. I feel stronger and I feel better. I don't have to work so hard to make the weight. I don't endure a lot to make the weight."

But for a lucrative rematch with Pacquiao and the excitement the event will create, Morales said he is willing to fight him again at 130 pounds.

"If I do fight him again, I have no problem doing it at 130," Morales said. "But that's the only reason I would go down to 130. Besides that fight, I want to fight at 135."

Pacquiao, a naturally smaller man than Morales, won his first title at flyweight (112 pounds) before reigning at junior featherweight and featherweight. Trainer Freddie Roach said 130 pounds is Pacquiao's maximum fighting weight.

"We know 126 is probably his best fighting weight, but he wants Morales again so we'll stay at 130," Roach said. "That is as high as we will go."

Morales is happy to oblige him.

"I think it is one of those fights people want to see," Morales said.

"They have talked about it, they have said he wasn't ready the first time because a lot of things were going on in his life. People say I didn't beat Pacquiao at his best. I think I did, but people talk about it and say there is doubt. So let's give it to them again."

Morales is quick to point out that he is in no way dismissing Raheem.

Raheem looks to be a complicated guy with a lot of movement, a lot of speed. He's hungry and he's got a big opportunity. We know that. We have to be ready for that.
Morales on his foe Saturday, Zahir Raheem

"Raheem looks to be a complicated guy with a lot of movement, a lot of speed," Morales said. "He's hungry and he's got a big opportunity. We know that. We have to be ready for that."

Ultimately, Morales would like to fight the winner of the Oct. 8 lightweight title rematch between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, whose first fight in May has been hailed as one of the sport's all-time great battles.

"I wouldn't have any problem fighting the winner of that fight," Morales said. "I'd be willing to fight him anytime he wants and I'd be happy to fight him at 135 pounds."

In fact, Morales was interested in facing the winner of Corrales-Castillo I. The night before the fight -- before anyone knew how incredible it would be -- Morales attended the annual Boxing Writers Association of America awards dinner and told Top Rank president Todd duBoef that he wanted the winner when he moved up in weight class.

"Erik Morales in a matchup with one of those two guys is a legendary matchup," duBoef said. "That's what it's all about. This could be the dream match of all matches. He has an unbelievable amount of confidence in himself and always wants to test himself, and he believes it is his responsibility to entertain the fans."

Morales certainly would be an underdog against either Corrales or Castillo, but his desire for such a risky fight does not surprise duBoef.

"I think it's very ambitious of him, but he's proven that he's one of the best in the world from 122 to 130 pounds, so to hear him say he wants to do the same thing at 135 doesn't surprise me because he has such great courage and heart," duBoef said.

"I think it's in line with Erik's career. He's always wanted to fight the best and has never dodged anyone. He's not going to start dodging people now."

If Morales could win that coveted title in a fourth division, it would break the tie he is in with legend Julio Cesar Chavez and archrival Marco Antonio Barrera. That would just make the accomplishment sweeter.

"Without a doubt, I know the opportunity is there to win a lightweight title," Morales said. "I would really like to take advantage of that. You don't have that many opportunities to do something great."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.

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