BOXING Ayala moves up to fight for featherweight crown

Oddsmakers had him a 3-1 underdog against Erik Morales in tonight's bout.
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The featherweight division is suddenly the place to be, and that's a big reason why Paulie Ayala needed to get bigger quick.
For a little guy, fights against the likes of Erik Morales for the vacant WBC title don't come along very often.
Ayala moves up in weight tonight to take on Morales for the same title Morales lost June 22 to Marco Antonio Barrera in his last fight.
Big question
Gaining the eight pounds was easy enough for the former batamweight champion. But the big question is whether the notoriously light-hitting Ayala has enough punch to stand toe-to-toe with one of the two best 126-pounders in the world.
Oddsmakers don't give him much hope, making Ayala a 3-1 underdog despite his history of doing just enough in his fights to eke out a long string of decision wins.
"They're making a big issue of this size thing but I've been sparring with featherweights," Ayala said. "My training has changed completely after the Bones [Adams] fight. I bulked up to 154 pounds. I lifted heavy weights."
Ayala figures to need as much bulk as he can put on against Morales, who was unbeaten in 42 fights before he lost a close decision to Barrera that Morales and his followers still believe he won.
Ayala himself has lost only once in 35 fights, but he has won only 12 by knockout and hasn't stopped an opponent in the last four years.
Still, he believes he can not only punch with his Mexican opponent but also get the better of him in the fight, which is scheduled to begin about 11 p.m. on HBO.
Strategy
"I don't think he wants to get hit," said Ayala, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas. "I'm going to come on immediately."
Both fighters will earn about $1 million, proof of the growing popularity of a featherweight division that also includes the likes of Naseem Hamed and Johnny Tapia.
In addition to the money, Morales gets the rare opportunity of immediately regaining the title he lost in the Barrera fight. Barrera refused to accept the belt because of a dispute he has with the WBC.
Morales, who beat Barrera the first time they fought, rushed out of the ring without a postfight interview after his loss because he wasn't used to being on the losing side.
"I thought they just interviewed the winner," he said.
Getting back the title is important to Morales, as is a third fight with Barrera to finally settle the score of who the best featherweight in the world is.
That means he has to not only beat Ayala, but look impressive in doing so to re-establish his credentials at 126 pounds. Barrera returned to the ring two weeks ago to beat Tapia in a lopsided decision, the same fighter Ayala has beaten twice.
Advantage
Morales said the fact he has been at 126 pounds for several years will give him a size and power advantage over Ayala.
"It's a big advantage for me," he said through an interpreter. "He'll be about 130 the night of the fight and I'll be about 138. I'll feel mean. And when he starts hitting me and I don't feel anything, that's another advantage for me."
Ayala said he plans to wear down Morales, whose endurance he believes may be suspect because he has been hit so much in the ring.
"Erik absorbs a lot of punches directly and doesn't have all that much defense," Ayala said. "He tries to take advantage of his reach and his height, but he's still been getting hit a lot. And his two fights with Barrera took their toll."