Two Aggressive Ex-Featherweight Champs Two tall Long-Range Bombers, Who liked to close the gap and close the show, Eric subsequently moved up in weight to exciting but mixed fortunes in top class choppy waters, Antonio simply left the stage, still a stranger to many ( the Nelson - McGuigen rivaly having perhaps soaked up most of the period journalistic focus ? ) But Antonio's quality was appreciated by those in the know, Two Long-Limped Punchers, Genuine stylistic Birds of a Feather...At Feather.. Eric or Antonio ?
Big fan of Esparragoza here. He is undervalued and was a helluva fighter at his peak. He had a whole lot going for him besides the power too. He was sound defensively, had a nice jab, great technique, could box and brawl, possessed solid hand-speed, etc. I loved the downward angle of his right hand shots as well. I feel as if he could have hung with many of the greats. Given that, Morales has just enough grit, determination, and toughness to see him through to the end and squeeze out a split decision in his favor. Would have been a fantastic fight though.
Esparragoza looked sub-par against average opposition though. I don't think he was all that on the inside at all.
He looked worse when he was inactive, which was a tendency of his, but in the majority of his defenses he displayed a clear superiority over them when he decided it was time to let go, hence why he scored stoppages in six of his nine title bouts. The problem was almost always punch count, not talent, which he clearly had, even on the inside, in my opinion.
