Morales- Barrera- Marquez

If i remember rightly, Jones had also been out of the ring for almost a year when he fought Morales.

He was certainly not at his sharpest lookingand did little after it, but then again he was considered washed up(wrongly) even going into the Barrera fights.that chin was always a major liability.

 

I don't think the Zaragoza fight really speaks to how much Zaragoza had left at the time, more to Morales's defensive short-comings at that point in his career (not that he would ever become much of a defensive fighter). It was pretty pitiful stuff.

And lora's spot on, compare the Zaragoza of the mid-80's to the mid-90's version. They're like different fighters. Even if he still held the crown, he was basically shot. The recent McCullough fight that Addie pointed out showed that much, along with the marvelous post-fight interview.

As for Jones' performance against Morales, I have to ask, tommy, where did you see Jones looking good prior to the KO? He maintained hardly any of the sharpness he had in his prime. Definitely looked like a faded fighter to me.

 

Morales chin is one of the best ever im boxing. Dude used to take flush bombs like it was nothing.

 

He'd also been brutally KO'd badly by Mkkinney the fight before after completely dominating and shellacking Mkkinney on a fight to rival Hamed-Kelly, which was on the same card I believe. Both 4 rounders too, that was 8 rounds of value if ever there was. Jones was a value for money fighter but he could have gone further by being more defensive

 

He landed shots on Morales and may have stunned him if I'm right. That's good enough for me. Never did I say these guys were in their prime

 

I'd go with either Marquez or Barrera. IMO, both these guys are better technical boxers than Morales. However, all three aren't exactly wild, erratic, and sloppy when it comes to technique. Morales was a lovely straight puncher in his prime. His straight right hand, down the pipe, was his honey punch.

I see Marquez in the same class as Arguello, Louis, and Hopkins when it comes to good solid fundemental technique.

I have seen thousands of fights and many great fighters. But never once have I seen any fighter....I repeat any, apart from Marquez, throw uppercuts at such a long range distance. He's basically the only fighter I've seen throw uppercuts on the outside.

 

Let's see how Marquez fears in his third fight with Pac-man and he will be ranked better in my opine!

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfvvHr8B-7Y[/ame]

4.14

Nunn and Spinks would be known to throw uppercuts from the outside, too.

JMM is unquestionably number one if he defeats Manny Pacquiao.

 

Didn't Morales do this? Jimmy Young on occasion? Zarate? Larry Holmes? Ricardo Lopez like Addie said?

Anyways it may make him more unique but it does not contribute to his greatness in my opinion.

 

Landing punches on Erik Morales wasn't a terribly difficult thing to do, Tommy. Besides, even shot fighters can throw their arms out in front of them. I'm not saying that Jones was shot, he wasn't, but he was not at his best and certainly not the same fighter who had defeated MAB.

 

I already said Morales had/has a bad defense. I don't think that contributes to the debate though. I rewatched it probably a week ago just to see how Jones performed and it's not like Morales was dominating him from the start. Jones was doing well for himself. I think I had Jones ahead on points. Morales just caught him perfectly.

 

Can't mind of Holmes or Morales........Lopez, yes. Certainly not Holmes or Morales. Not at long range.

 

No use in going round in circles. You think Zaragoza and Jones were notable wins. Fine.

Side note: I don't recall Morales throwing uppercuts from long range too often.

But Nunn did.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcb1MgGrlWA[/ame]

0.55 & 1.42

 

It's a shame for Marquez, so far, regarding the outcomes of the previous Pacquaio fights. He deserves a win out the two fights. I had him winning them both. I'm not sure he's got it at this age to handle a prime Pacquaio. I'd love to see him win the third fight, badly. He deserves it.

 

No more unlucky than MAB was in the first Morales and second Jones fights, in my opinion.

Marquez lost two very close fights. It happens all of the time to all of the top fighters. This is nothing exclusive to JMM.