For the love of money, err, country, we still root for the Manny Pacquiao in his Grand Finale with Erik Morales this morning in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The three-division world champions Pacman and the "El Terible" will get it on for the third time to determine who really is the best man inside the ring. Pacquiao and Morales each own a victory over the other in their two previous fights - both considered "Fight of the Year" candidates -- which have attracted over 700,000 pay-per-view buys combined.

This morning's fight is both for drama and excitement because there's nothing quite like the deciding match of a great boxing rivalry. Expect the entire country to stand still this morning and the streets almost deserted including CPG avenue which has been closed from traffic for the past weeks now.

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Pacquiao, (42-3-2, 32 KOs) from General Santos City returns to the ring looking for his third victory within this year.. He won a 12-round unanimous decision over former world champion Oscar Larios last July 1 at the sold-out Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Earlier, Pacquiao avenged his previous loss to Morales scoring a dramatic and historic victory ;ast Jan. 21 dealing "El Terrible" his first-ever knockout loss, stopping him in the 10th round, utilizing his secret weapon -- the savage punch known as "Manila Ice."

Courtesy of his coach, Freddie Roach. Pacquiao has gone 16-1-2 in his last 19 bouts with 15 of his victories coming by knockout, including a sensational stoppage of world champion Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pacquiao is a former WBC flyweight, IBF jr. featherweight and The Ring magazine featherweight champion. He is the WBC's and the WBO's No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger for the 130-pound titles and a consensus Top-Three "Pound-for-Pound" fighter.

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On the other hand, Morales, (48-4, 34 KOs), from Tijuana, Mexico, is universally recognized as one of the best boxers in the world at any weight, pound-for-pound. He is also one of the most exciting and has fought in several of the most sensational battles of recent years, including his 12-round unanimous decision victory over Pacquiao in their first battle.

Morales is a former WBC super bantamweight champion, two-time WBC featherweight champion and WBC super featherweight champion. He became the second fighter from Mexico to win world titles in three weight divisions - Julio Cesar Chavez was the first.

Like Chavez, Erik is also a certain future Hall of Famer.

According to the HBO website, Morales' Hall of Fame caliber resume boasts victories over Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Carlos Hernandez, Jesus 'El Matador' Chavez, Guty Espadas, Paulie Ayala, Injin Chi, Kevin Kelley, Wayne McCullough, Junior Jones, Jose Luis Bueno, Daniel Zaragoza and Hector Acero-Sanchez.

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SP UPDATES. The executive meeting of the city lawmakers ate much of the time during the regular session of the 9th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tagbilaran last Wednesday.

Vice Mayor Nuevas Tirol Montes presented to the city councilors the proposed budget of the city's legislative branch as an offshoot to the budget planning and workshop held last month. There is an increase of 15% in the proposed SP budget compared to last year's P19 million appropriation.

During the session proper, City Councilor Archie Sarmiento sponsored a resolution authorizing the City Mayor Dan Neri Lim to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Commission on Population for the implementation of the Strategic Competency Development Project. The measure was approved en masse.

ADVISORY. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines- Bohol Chapter in coordination with the University of the Philippines - Institute of Judicial Administration will hold a 36-uhnit Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Seminar on Dec. 5 to 7 at the MetroCentre Hotel this city.

Atty. Salvador D. Diputado, IBP Bohol president, said the registration fee is P4,500.00 which covers MCLE seminar fee, meals, snacks and convention kit.

The attendance of IBP members to the MCLE is required pursuant to the Supreme Court En Banc Resolution No. 850.

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INBOX. We received forwarded e-mail this week from Hermes Quijada through his e-mail address at hermes_q@sbcglobal.net. Gigi Apalisok also shared us a family photo in the US through her e-mail address jijileggington@yahoo.com.

An e-mail sender, "Zilonil@aol.com" also wrote: "Why are BC issues not updated regularly on this website? It's already 10th of November but its latest release is still the Wednesday of Nov. 1st? Just asking. MJA".

Gisela May Leggington <jijileggington@yahoo.com

Finally, Yonie Malig-on, a native of Mansasa this city who is now Hawaii-based, sent an e-mail to inform how she enjoyed reading our piece here. Her e-mail ad is yoniem@nordicgc.com.

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For comments and suggestions, just e-mail to the following e-mail addresses: obiter@boholchronicle.com