IT looks as if it's going to be a bumper year for boxing with numerous big fights already lined up including, of course, my world super-middleweight unification fight with Jeff Lacy.

The first of what can rightly be described as one of the major fights takes place in Las Vegas this weekend when Mexican Erik 'El Terrible' Morales meets Filipino Manny Pacquiao in their long-awaited rematch.

The fight is only a WBC world super-featherweight title eliminator as neither man is currently a world champion but that does not detract from Saturday's rematch, Morales having won the first narrowly on points. Morales is a three times world champion and Pacquiao has twice been a world champion and they are still among the biggest draws in the lower weight divisions.

Their first fight was a war which Morales rightly won (all three judges scoring it 115-113) and I anticipate the second being the same with exactly the same result.

Morales will start favourite because he is taller and stronger and will be confident in the knowledge he did really well last time, outboxing Pacquiao and absorbing all his best shots.

Pacquaio will be all action and will keep coming forward and obviously has a puncher's chance, but Morales has a solid chin and tremendous durability.

He has never been stopped, including in three great world title fights with fellow Mexican star Marcus Antonio Barrera, winning the first on a split decision, losing the second unanimously on points and the third on a majority decision.

I'll be surprised if either guy fails to last the distance, though Pacquiao has suffered two early stoppages in his career, I think it will be another great fight and, as I said, I think Morales will win.

Another major fight, scheduled for El Paso, Texas, in February, the third contest between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, is unfortunately off as Corrales suffered a rib injury in training.

Their first fight was one of the best and most brutal I've seen and there is no doubt the third contest will go on sometime this year because of the interest.

But the injury to Corrales again emphasises the precariousness of the boxing business.

The WBA super-middleweight title fight between undefeated champion Mikkel Kessler and former champion Eric Lucas went exactly the way I suggested it would in this column last week.

Kessler stopped Lucas in ten rounds, having won every round on each of the judges' scorecards.

I said Lucas was over the hill and only brought in as an easy opponent for Kessler in front of his home fans in Copenhagen, but, in fairness, the Dane did well as Lucas has always been strong and durable.

Lucas said Kessler was the best opponent he had fought apart from the once great Roy Jones and that is high praise indeed, if a bit over the top. Nevertheless, I do rate Kessler highly and he is a dark horse in the super-middleweight ranks, a very good box-fighter.

But it's unlikely I'll ever get to meet him now to find out just how good he is because after Lacy I'll have bigger fish to fry in the light-heavyweight ranks. Meanwhile training and sparring continues to gather pace for the Lacy fight. Everything is ticking over nicely ahead of the heavier sparring in a week or two when we'll bring in a few fighters from abroad.

l Tickets for the 'Judgement Day' world super-middleweight unification fight between Calzaghe and Lacy in Manchester on March 11 are selling fast for what is expected to be a 20,000 sell-out.

In Gwent, Phil Walker is running coaches to and from the MEN venue. Tickets, priced £50 to £300, are available from Walker, telephone 01495-244287 (day) or 01495-217784 (evening) and from Serge Calzaghe (tel 07929-567153).