Erik Morales
REALITY IS MUCH DIFFERENT STRANGER THAN FICTION
Los Angeles, CA– History has it way of preserving stories of truth, as well as myths that resemble mis-created fantasies like a Harry Potter movie. However, history also has a way of rewriting it’s own evolution, reexamining it’s own past and developing new life. Why should we reduce our hidden desire and influencing an unwritten future? We, as humans tend to rely solely on what’s in front of us, on what we can see with our two eyes (unless of course you were watching the Gabriel Campillo-Tavoris Cloud fight) the recorded events and present is what holds truth until we set claim write a new chapter on our lives.
BATTLE TESTED, ERIK HAS FOUGHT 17 OF LAST 19 YEARS FOR MONEY
At 35 years of age, Erik Morales (52-7, 36 KOs) has composed a new series of events into his ever-growing novel, entitled “El Terrible”. Born on September 9, 1976, as the saying goes, he was born to fight. Morales excelled in the amateur ranks and amassed a remarkable 108-6 record fighting with head gear. At the age of 16, he entered the paid ranks as a jr. featherweight (122 lbs). Five years forward at the tender age 21, Erik would come face to face with Hall of Fame member Daniel Zaragoza, who went 14-5-2 in WBC title fights, including one defense of the green belt at 118, Morales the chain smoking champ with a KO 11 in September 1997.
ERIK WRITING HIS-STORY!
Morales would later go on to have the first of their three epic bouts against one of the all-time greats, Marco Antonio Barrera. Morales took the first in 2000 by controversial decision in a great “give and take” battle. He would go on to defend his green belt nine times before moving up in weight in 2001 to challenge Guty Espadas Jr. and take ownership of the WBC featherweight strap. The year 2002 was the first taste of defeat for Morales when the Tijuana great, engaged for the second time against the Marco Antonio Barrera losing a disputed decision. In 2004, Morales would collect his third weight division title against the brave Jesus Chavez, taking most of those twelve rounds. Late 2004, once again, Mexican-rivals, Morales and Barrera tangled in a hellacious battle with Barrera once again the victor, UD12.
14-2 IN WBC TITLE FIGHTS AT 122, 126 & 130 LBS. BEFORE MEETING PACMAN
2005, was the beginning of the end for Morales, but not without one last stellar performance, against the Filipino icon, none other than current welterweight rage Manny Pacquiao (54-3, 38 KOs). The two men deployed a heavy arsenal of destructive force between the two, pugilistic beauty at its best. Morales came out of their grueling contest with a close win. However, in late 2005, Erik Morales moved up to lightweight (135) and face the still unrewarded 1996 U.S. Olympian Zahir Raheem, who would go on to dominate Morales with ease with a UD 12. Morales’ popularity and his ties to promoter Bob Arum would garner him another shot at 130 against the Pacman. Morales was game, but outgunned and was stopped in his tracks for the first time in 52 pro bouts. Pushing forward towards a third meeting, Morales, just four months removed from that crushing defeat, fought a rubber match with Pacquiao, now showing Superman-like strength, and once again proved too much for “El Terrible,” who looked “Terrible.”
Morales Acknowledging Manny’s Supremacy
MORALES LOOKED LIKE BURNED TOAST….WELL-DONE!
Morales was left speechless after suffering that third straight loss. Erik would one again would go to lightweight (135) and another losing effort, this time to limited WBC guy David Diaz. Morales announced his retirement after being served his fourth defeat in his last five. Chapter concluded, close the book on Erik “El Terrible” Morales. Or so we thought.
THE RETURN COMES AT 147 & THEN 140 LBS.
After a two and a half-year hiatus from this grueling sport, Morales announced his return to the ring on March 27, 2010 against the average Jose Alfaro (23-5, 20 KOs) seizing his first win as a welterweight (147). Morales went on to win two more bouts in modest fashion against semi-stiffs. Then came along the hard-hitting jr. welter from Argentina, Marcos Maidana. This had mismatch written all over it, as I for one was disgusted by the event being distributed by HBO PPV. Boy was I wrong!! Turns out there was still some fight left in the Tijuana boxer, or Madaina (now 31-3, 28 KOs) was overrated with little boxing skill with only some punching power to back it up. Some observers felt that Morales gave it his all and was at the wrong end of the decision by losing a majority verdict. Morales came back five months later with a bogus claim as the first ever Mexican fighter to win a fourth division title (140) against untested Pablo Cesar Cano (23-1-1, 18 KOs).
GARCIA HAS YOUTH, LESS MILES, BUTS LACKS EXPERIENCE
Erik Morales will be facing a young active formidable challenger March 24 in Houston, TX. The young buck is Danny Garcia (22-0, 14 KOs). At 23, Garcia, appearing against Morales as part of an HBO and will have his trainer/brother, Robert Garcia’s inspiration as battles for what some say is now a devalued WBC 140 lb. title. The invigorated Morales will have to fend off a rugged but still green challenger. Garcia will lead in the speed department and will be the fresher of the two. Morales will have to achieve a great deal of success with his resilient foe. Morales may refuse to lose, but this could be Danny Garcia’s coming out party. Morales, is not one to elude severe punishment from his adversaries, he has the battle scars. In closing, it should be a good scrap!
Dominic Verdin