When promoter Bob Arum matched Zahir Raheem against Erik Morales in a card called "Double Trouble" which also featured Manny Pacquiao last September, the thinking was that both fighters would win their "tune-ups" and stoke the fires that fueled the anticipation of a 2006 rematch. Pacquiao looked impressive in his TKO of Hector Velazquez. But Morales got punked.

Perhaps Top Rank's best kept secret, Zahir Raheem sprung a surprise upset victory by embarassing "El Terrible" with his stick-and-move style, making the future hall-of-famer look ordinary. But after deliberation, Arum and Paquiao promoter Finkel decided to go ahead with the rematch anyway; now it was Raheem who was getting punked.

Although some of the luster is lost due to Morales' loss, the plot is still thick. Morales fired his father and long-time trainer Jose Morales and hired Jose Lopez Sr. Also, Morales claims that the extra weight at fighting for the first time at lightweight and his disinterest in fighting Raheem caused his worst performance ever, though Raheem would probably give Morales fits even if Morales was in top shape. On the flipside, Pacquiao looked so good in dismantling Velazquez that the tables, though not quite turned, are tilted. Because of Morales' poor showing against Raheem, Morales-Pacquiao II, paradoxically, looks more competitive than it otherwise would have been.

Morales, 48-3 (34), still has to be favoured going into Saturday's rematch at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. When he is fired up for a big fight, he his a relentless warrior, demonstrating fiery intensity mixed with top-of-the line boxing skills. Pacquiao, 40-3-2 (31), though a quick-fisted and devestating puncher who hardly ever takes a backward step, is probably too small to compete at 130. Morales beat "Pac-Man" soundly in their first encounter, although the fight was definitely competitive. This time, Morales says he will back Pacquiao up all night long, noting that the Filipino is not effective fighting backwards. The suspense surrounding the fight concerns Morales' motivation and his desire to redeem himself as well as the momentum Pacquiao is riding after his solid win. Pacquiao has a puncher's chance if he pressures Morales and tries to get him off his game. Morales has a tendency to fight emotionally and make arrogant decisions in the ring (like switching to southpaw in the 12th round of their first fight), but if Morales brings his A game, he could stop Pacqiauo, even though he hasn't scored a knockout victory since his debut at junior lightweight.

Look for a repeat of their first clash, with the iron-chinned Morales boxing carefully but being forced into a brawl when Pacquiao pressures him. Morales will be more reckless than he was in the first fight, which means even more fireworks. At the weigh in, Morales as usual, looked pale and gaunt, as if death himself had appeared on the scales. But come Sautrday, it's up to Morales to come to life and stop Pacquiao, the smaller fighter, if he wants to redeem himself from the Raheem loss. If Morales is truly a hall-of-fame fighter, as surely he is, nothing short of that will do.

Prediction: Draw