By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
November 17, 2006

AP - Nov 17, 6:06 pm EST
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LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales are ready for the third round, and both fighters believe it will be the best one yet.

Just observe the grin on Pacquiao's face as he stepped on the scale with hundreds of Filipino fans cheering his name Friday -- or watch Morales' swell of pride as he hears Mexican fans chanting his name at the same weigh-in. Two of the world's most entertaining fighters both believe they're about to make history Saturday night.

After splitting two thrilling matches in the previous 20 months, the junior lightweights will complete one of boxing's better trilogies in recent years in front of a sellout Las Vegas crowd and a pay-per-view audience stretching from Manila to Mexico City, with more than 1 million purchases already.

Pacquiao's reputation and Morales' career probably hang on the outcome of a much-anticipated return to the ring for two classic brawlers who inspire worship in their native lands -- and in southern Nevada, where their 130-pound matchup is the toughest ticket in town.

There's little bad blood in "The Grand Finale," as it's being billed, but Pacquiao (42-3-2, 32 KOs) is confident he can keep his meteoric career on the rise with a second straight victory over Morales (48-4, 34 KOs), the famed slugger whose first trilogy, with Marco Antonio Barrera, already has a place in boxing history.

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"I'm not going to promise I'm going to knock him out, but I'm doing my best to make people happy," said Pacquiao, who sparred 150 rounds during training. "I'm very confident to win this fight, but I know Morales is still a good fighter."

Morales won the fighters' first bout with an unanimous decision in March 2005, surprising Pacquiao with his tenacity and pride. Pacquiao, who fought valiantly through a bloodied face in the final rounds, blamed his only loss since 1999 on distractions from his management, his personal life -- even his gloves.

And just as Pacquiao has done repeatedly in the career that has made him a demigod in the Philippines, he rebounded with a vengeance. In the rematch 10 months ago in Las Vegas, Pacquiao remedied his mistakes and battered Morales with waves of punches, bruising his face and body before dropping him twice in the 10th round for the first TKO loss of Morales' career.

This time, Morales went back to work with his father, Jose, back in his corner after being absent for the second fight. Pacquiao won another fight in the Philippines and continued his dalliances with singing, endorsements and acting.

With three losses in his last four fights, the 30-year-old "El Terrible" could be on the downside of his career if he can't put a scare into Pacquiao. Morales expects much more, however.

"I'm going to win, and I have two motivations," Morales said. "One is for the fans who want me to win. And two, for the guys who don't want me to win. They make me work harder."

Both fighters weighed in at exactly 129 pounds Friday at the Thomas and Mack Center, where hundreds of enthused fans alternated chants of "Mexico!" and "Manny!" while waving flags and banners.

Pacquiao and Morales posed amiably for pictures on the dais with none of the often-staged animosity of such events. The fighters clearly respect each other, and both appeared to be in fantastic shape for their second rematch -- particularly Morales, who thought he had been insulted when Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach reportedly wondered whether he could get under 130 after weighing in at 142 just 30 days earlier.

"Three months ago, a lot of people did not believe that I'd make the weight, but here I am," Morales said. "Freddie Roach should start worrying about his fighters instead of me."

Bobby Pacquiao, Manny's brother who's also trained by Roach, didn't make weight for his super featherweight fight against Hector Velazquez on Thursday night, then lost his WBC title when he was disqualified for low blows.

But this fight has proved to be just as irresistible to true boxing fans as its promoters hoped. Bob Arum said more than 1 million pay-per-view buys were made by Thursday -- more than in either of the first two fights -- and a sellout is expected, leading to closed-circuit broadcasts elsewhere in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao is guaranteed $3 million, while Morales will make at least $2.75 million -- but both fighters say they're in it for history, not money.

"The third fight will be remembered forever," Arum said. "I am confident in saying it will be one of the great, great fights in boxing history."