Recently i purchased my Erik Morales Career set. I was a HUGE fan before. Now, i absolutley worship this guy. Erik Morales for me was the numero uno featherweight (or around that weight) of his era. An era that included Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Naseem hamed (to a lesser extent) and of course the now junior welterweight Manny Pacquaio. Despite losing his trilogies with both Barrera and Pacquaio i am STILL inclined to call him the better fighter of the three. Call me a fool but Morales certainly had it in him to win clearly against either. It was perhaps the double edged sword warrior machismo he possesed that prevented him from doing so. The same machismo which made him a fan friendly fighter that also lead to him being an over the hill shot fighter at the tender age of 29. From his wars with Barrera-a fighter i believe Morales could have soundly outboxed to a comfortable decision victory. To his last great performance and now iconic 12th round Vs Manny Pacquaio. Entering the 12th and final round, comfortably ahead on the score cards, Erik's trainer and father said to his son the now immortal word's, 'don't do anything stupid'. So what does Erik Morales do? He turns southpaw. He catches flush shots to the jaw. He encourages the heavy handed Pacquaio to go to war with him. That one round alone in the whole entire career of 'El terrible' captured him in all his glory. What made Morales so unique was his excellent boxing skill and technique. He was not the fastest, flashiest or most flamboyant but for a fighter who was operating at the lower weights his accuracy and timing was absolutely deadly. Many times you see fighters at lower weights throwing shots for the sake of throwing shots with speed and little accuracy and at times technique. Morales was unique when it came to this. Perhaps his greatest punch combo was his left to the body followed by his overhand right. I very seldom witnessed him miss this combination. His ability to fight off the ropes is often understated. Very rarely can a fighter do this without using much lateral movement whilst their back is against the ropes. Morales was comfortable anywhere in the ring he could do almost anything. Anything but follow the game plan that is. Reports are circling in the boxing world that Morales is planning a ill awaited comeback. Its genuinely hard to believe this man is still only 32. Although in boxing terms he far exceeds that age. I for one, sincerly hopes he stays retired and does not tarnish a glittering career further. A three weight world champion and in my eyes inexplicitly robbed of becoming Mexico's first four weight world champion against David Diaz. Erik Morales will definately go down as one of the greatest of his era a man whose wins and style did as much for his legacy as his defeats did. You may not agree with me when i say Erik 'El terrible' Morales numero uno. Maybe in time a revised in depth critical analysis will show he truely should be considered numero uno despite losing to his biggest rivals. Stay retired champ. Thanks for all the memories. :hi:
Thanks. I thought i was going to get grilled when i decided to write this. Nice to hear others have the same sentiments as me.
I agree but I think that people misintrepret the whole going south paw against Manny thing. He wanted to lead with is stronger hand because he was going for the KO (which in itself is fan pleasing and friendly) it wasn't for pure entertainment value the way many think
Well, either way it was entertainment because he was winning and still wanted a K.O. In doing this he left himself completely vunerable against a heavyfisted fighter in the 12th round is very dangerous. His refusal to go switch back to orthodox showed he put the fans first and he paid the price.
He is for me also. I did not want to put that in the article because that was not the purpose of the thread. Morales was so skilled its unreal. Champion at 20, i think going into the Mcullough fight his record in championship fights was 8 wins 8 ko's.
Is he? Morales is Junior Jones and Manny Pacquaio's daddy. Morales was shadow of the fighter who got k.o'd by Pacman.
You said "call me a fool" and seeing as a disagree with your post and believe Barrera is better I called you a fool ?
Jones was finished when he fought Morales and how is Morales Pac´s daddy when he got koed twice by him :huh