Erik Morales one of Mexico’s greatest warriors is ready to hop back into the ring against a stern opponent. Morales promoter contacted ESPN.com to let them know the fight was signed and ready to be announced. The fight will take place in Monterrey, Mexico March 27th and be televised through Pay-Per-View. Erik Morales (48-6, 34 KOs) will be coming off a 2 ½ year lay off the last time he fought was August 2007 against former Lightweight champ David Diaz. Morales is better known for his epic trilogies with Marco Anthony Barrera and Manny Pacquiao. Even though Morales has lost 4 fights in a row and 5 out of his last 6 the one win he has to his credit is 2005 victory against Manny Pacquiao the only win of the trilogy. That is the only loss Manny Pacquiao has had in the last 5 years that says a lot about his skill level at one point of his career. Even though the next 2 fights in the trilogy ended in exciting knockouts Pacman dominated.
I’ve followed Erik Morales for a long time when he was rising through the ranks and when he started dismantling in 2006, 07. I remember watching all three fights in the trilogy against Pacquiao and in the first one he looked good used distance and he had the stamina to go the full 12 rounds. In the next 2 matches Pacquiao absolutely blew Morales out the water he was getting hit and he’s legs looked like spaghetti. He was just over matched he gave up in the 3rd fight sitting on the canvas the referee was counting 10 and Morales just shook his head saying no. When he fought David Diaz he looked strong in the first 4 rounds he even knocked him down early in the fight. As the fight progressed the spaghetti legs returned for Morales as he tired significantly. What I’m getting at is I think Morales still can fight at a high skill level but the question is going to be if he has the stamina to last against a tough opponent. His opponent is former lightweight champion Jose Alfaro (23-5, 20 KOs). He held the belt for 5 months before Anthony DeMarco put a hurting on him and they stopped it in the 10th round. We and the entire boxing world will find out what Erik Morales is coming back with. Is he going to deteriorate like an old Roy Jones Jr.? Or will he have a George Foreman run late in his career? Due to the heavy wars he’s been in with Barrera and Pacquiao the odds point to deterioration but we will find out soon enough.
Written by Vic.P
No comments:
Post a Comment