Yeah that is what I like about Morales here is that if pure boxing isnt working he can turn up the pressure and brawl some. I dont think JMM would take that well and I can see him getting dropped but very unlikely Erik gets dropped from a counter the way his chin was back then. Also contrary to popular opinion, Morales wasnt a wreckless brawler like say Ward or Mayorga, he was more composed and picked his times to comeforward and let his hands go. If you watch him versus Zaragosa and Pac I (minus the last round) he shows those guys healthy respect and he brawls in spurts and then boxes and switches back and forth. He isnt wreckless.
Morales take the 1st few rounds as Marquez starts slow. Marquez gets into the fight and they split rounds. With Marquez needing to win last 2 rounds, even enough 11th round, then Morales turns it on for the last round knowing he has the fight won i.e Erik - Manny 1!!! Anyway a close fight with Morales winning by a close UD or SD! I foam at the mouth at the thought of this fight:dead
If they fought three times Morales takes two. Prime4Prime that is. Today Marquez would take all three.
At featherweight and in his prime Erik Morales beats Marquez at super featherweight and lightweight Marquez beats him
Marquez, to me, wasn't quite the furious creature he's become at the higher weights. He seemed like a guy who could be outworked even if he was equally or more skilled. After the Pac fights he changed, said "It's my time," and wouldn't let anyone stand in his way. Morales at 126 was pure fire, he dripped with contempt and regal disregard. You felt he'd kill his mother and bring the very Earth to ruin to get his victory. I see his passion being the deciding factor late in the fight.
Morales was a great brawler, but he was also an exceptional boxer. I say it would be 55/45 in Morales favor, just because in his prime Morales was unstoppable.
Wow tough one. One of many great fights that never happened. I would say Morales etches by a close decision but the same can go for Marquez.
Morales by split decision, but it will be one of those fight that are too close to call. both are technicaly sound fighters. Morales I would say has the better balance and foot work. Marquez, I feel would be the stronger of the two. about the same speed wise, and same ability to take punishment. too close to call
The more I think about this, the more I go with Morales. Marquez is good, but he was not as good as Morales. EM in his prime was a monster of many proportions and literary unstoppable in his prime. And while JMM is a great boxer, I don't see how he would be able to deal with an EM's assault. It wasn't untill he was past his prime that imo he lost to MAB, and by then he had been in too many wars too many time, yet as a shot fighter was able to beat Pac. Now Pac and MAB being the most noticible common opponents. EM beat a fresher young version of MAB twice imo. Marquez beat a way past primed MAB in a close fight. EM being close to shot (if not shot) beat Pac. Marquez excluding the 1st rd in fight 1 also beat Pac. KEY DIFFERENCE being that Morales was way past his best, yet still beat Pac. So IMHO, Morales would best Marquez in a close fight based how their respective careers have unfolded.