Manny Pacquiao, right, working out Tuesday with trainer Freddie Roach, will take on Erik Morales on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center in a rematch of a fight won by Morales last March. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Manny Pacquiao speaks limited English and often looks to trainer Freddie Roach for help in answering questions.

But the Filipino boxing star, who takes on Erik Morales on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center in a rematch of their brilliant March 19 slugfest, didn't need any help explaining his problems in the second half of that super featherweight bout.

"I have cut and because of cut, I cannot see," Pacquiao said before a workout Tuesday at the IBA Gym. "When you can't see, it's hard."

Pacquiao was cut in the fifth round from what referee Joe Cortez ruled a left hook. Televised replays indicated the hook indeed landed but that the fighters banged heads as Morales followed through on the punch.

Pacquiao (40-3-2, 31 knockouts) insists it was Morales' head, not his fist, that opened the gash. There's no disputing the fact that the cut dramatically altered the fight.

The bout was almost stopped when ringside physician Al Capanna examined the cut above Pacquiao's right eye. He spoke to Pacquiao in Spanish, but Pacquiao speaks only English and Tagalog.

Pacquiao looked blankly, not understanding as Capanna questioned him. Pacquiao's corner was screaming to make sure Capanna did not assume Pacquiao was hurt because he wasn't responding and stop the fight.

"That whole sequence, that wasn't very good for Manny, beginning to end," Roach said.

Morales won the fight essentially with his jab, pumping his left over and over into Pacquiao's face. He repeatedly moved Pacquiao into the punch, and because Pacquiao couldn't see properly, Morales built up points.

Complicating matters for Pacquiao was cut man Lenny DeJesus' inability to stop the bleeding quickly. Morales' punches then were wiping Pacquiao's blood into his own eyes, creating another problem in one of the biggest fights of his life.

"I don't make excuses," Pacquiao said. "But it was hard. You try to see, and you get hit. Very tough."

It was especially tough given Morales' size advantage and that the Mexican is one of the division's sharpest punchers.

Pacquiao also fought amid controversy, as he was feuding with former promoter Murad Muhammad.

Pacquiao alleged that Muhammad organized a scheme to bilk him out of much of his money. He later sued Muhammad and won a settlement just as the jury was about to render a verdict.

Roach said all the problems conspired to make Pacquiao less than he could have been and should have been in the first fight.

"As an athlete, the bottom line is, when the lights are on and the bell rings, you have to perform," Roach said. "I give Morales a lot of credit for how he fought. Manny's not an excuse maker, and neither am I.

"The cut was unfortunate, and it didn't help us. Bottom line, it's up to Manny to do it in there. And based on this camp, I really think you'll see that Manny is ready to perform at a pretty high level."

• THOMPSON OUT -- Jose Luis Zertuche (17-2-2, 13 KOs) has yet another opponent for his middleweight fight that will open the card on HBO Pay-Per-View. Unbeaten Kelly Pavlik injured a hand last week and had to withdraw. He was replaced on Friday by Anthony Thompson, but Thompson pulled out Monday and was replaced the next day by Marcos Primera (19-12-2, 12 KOs). A Top Rank spokesman said Thompson had felt pressured to take the bout. ... The pay-per-view broadcast begins at 6 p.m. The first bout is at 4 p.m.