Erik Morales won 47 of his first 48 fights and championsips in three weight classes. But what has he done for us lately?

Morales, the former super bantamweight, featherweight and super featherweight champion from Tijuana, has lost three of his past four fights.

That doesn't mean he has to apologize for it. But that's just about what he did this past Saturday morning at a news conference at Wynn in Las Vegas. Morales and other interested parties were on hand to formally announce the rubber match between Morales and Manny Pacquiao that will take place Nov. 18 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

"As everyone knows, the last few times in the ring haven't been real good for me," said Morales, 29. "I think there have been a lot of different things, a lot of circumstances that are the reasons why things haven't worked out. But I am on the right track.

"I'm asking you to one more time believe in me." First of all, Morales doens't have to ask anyone for anything. He has earned a lot of respect during an illustrious 13-year career that has seen him go 48-4 with 34 knockouts. He should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes.

Here is the real problem: Morales believes he is on the "right track" because he is velocity training in Los Angeles. That is supposed to help him make the 130-pound limit at which he and Pacquiao will fight, something Morales had difficulty doing for his last fight with Pacquiao last January at Thomas & Mack.

The result was a 10th-round technical knockout for Pacquiao. But what is familiar about this scenario? Morales is managed by Fernando Beltran, as is Jose Luis Castillo. Most experts believe Castillo just could not have made 135 pounds no matter what he did. Yet Castillo tried to and of course was embarrassed when he did not make the weight for his third fight with Diego "Chico" Corrales scheduled for last June 3.

Castillo later this month will face the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which figures to punish him for his role in the cancellation of that fight. Castillo, as well as his promoter, Bob
Arum, are also being sued by Corrales and his promoter, Gary Shaw.

Now, we're not saying that Morales absolutely can't make weight in November, but at what price fame? He will be 30 on Sept. 1, meaning he is getting old for a smaller fighter. Is it even safe for him to be trying to make 130 at this stage of his career?

Velocity training is a variety of exercises and athletic activities designed to improve body strength as well as agility, speed, balance and flexibility - all the while assisting in weight
loss.

This sounds great. But nothing can stop Father Time. It could very well be that, like Castillo, Morales is trying to fight at a weight at which he should no longer be fighting.

That's why Morales moved up to 135 after winning a decision over Pacquiao at 130 in their first fight in March 2005 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Morales lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Zahir Raheem, then moved back down to 130 for the ill-fated rematch with Pacquiao because Pacquiao would not fight above that weight.

Moreover, Morales and his promoter, the same Arum, wanted this third fight to be at 135. Morales said after he was stopped by Pacquaio in the rematch that he would no longer fight at 130, but Pacquiao said the third fight would again have to be at 130.

Pacquiao is smart to insist on this. Morales might not be so smart for continuing to fight at 130 - against an animal like Pacquiao.

"We know Erik is going to bring his 'A' game," said Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, "because he knows he has to to beat Manny Pacquiao."

For his sake, here's hoping the best Morales has to offer at this point is good enough for him to escape without being seriously injured.