"Erik is very determined and he is anxious to take on Pacquiao for a third time," said Arum in a statement released on Wednesday (Thursday in the Philippines). "These two great champions have always given it their all, each and every second in the ring, especially against each other. I expect this third fight to be the most exciting of the trilogy — and that’s saying something."

The fight is going ahead despite claims by some quarters that the bout could not possibly be held at 130 lbs, the weight class stipulated in the contract, because it was impossible for Morales to make that limit as he has grown big and heavy.

"You have to cut off his two legs," said Rafael Mendoza, the agent of recent Pacquiao foe Oscar Larios, when asked about Pacquiao-Morales III.

"I can assure you 100 percent that Morales will never make the 130 lbs. limit," Mendoza said. "He will never make that weight. He might even die doing it. He will be too weak."

Mendoza’s fears, as far as the Morales camp is concerned, are unfounded.

Morales has started the first phase of his preparation for the third fight as he is set to undergo tests under weight reduction experts in Los Angeles before heading for training proper. Morales plans to train in his hometown of Tijuana in preparation for eight weeks of intense workouts at the Otomi Mountains, the high-altitude training center for Mexico’s top fighters.

Pacquiao, who is fresh from a rousing 12-round decision win over Larios, will begin training in August in Baguio City, but should be at the doorsteps of Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in September.

As in their first two meetings, the third fight will be seen on pay-per-view. The last time they fought in January, when Pacquiao became the first man to stop Morales, there were 350,000 buys.

Arum expects the figures to increase in November.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao will fly to the US at 10 tonight via Philippine Airlines to show his support to the title bid of lightweight challenger Randy Suico, who vies for the World Boxing Association 135-lb throne of Mexican-American Juan Diaz at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).

Pacquiao will be accompanied in the trip by confidant Wakee Salud and Los Angeles-based adviser Joe Ramos. It could not be determined when they are expected to return since Pacquiao is contemplating on taking part in a bigtime poker tournament in Las Vegas from July 24 to 26.

Pacquiao will be fetched in General Santos City at 7 a.m. today by a private plane from ABS-CBN, one of the fighter’s most ardent supporters.