Juan Manuel Marquez vs Erik Morales @126 i'd say its been done a thousand times and it still has a remote chance of happening but i'm gonna lay it down anyway Power-Tough but i think Marquez hits harder and although morales can hit quick fire and often ko shots i think Jmm is the stronger both physically and punch-wise of the two, contrary to popular belief Speed-In my opinion its morales without question but thats not to say jmm isnt fast just not on Morale's level Chin-Both extremely tough and durable warriors but i think it has to be given to jmm as he has never been stopped and has been in many big punchers. Both have great chins though Defence-Jmm no doubt.Jmm still gets hit more than he should though but morales barely defends at all,although thats why most love him Weight advantage- both comfortable at 126 so its N/A OUTCOME- it can go 2 ways: either marquez and morales duke it and brawl to a SD in morales favour or Jmm keeps outside and consummately outboxs Morales to a UD. i can see it being the latter FEEL FREE TO DISAGREE
12rds & a bad case of "What could have been" years ago. Tho I admit, The fight is still appealing to me. In a perfect world, one wins that 140 lbs championship then losses it to other... Hence both become 4x champions in a 4th weight class.
Everything in green could not be further from the truth. Morales at his best beats Marquez by close UD, JMM would likely taste canvas in a flash KD in a heated battle, Morales would definitely not hit the canvas, he never did at his best & it sure as hell wasnt his chin that failed him when he did, it was his body, weight making etc. Erik with his height, reach, better footwork & harder punches would be tough for JMM, he is a great counter-puncher himself & a great distance boxer, I dont see him being outclassed in a `boxing` match with JMM at all but even if the `boxing` thing isnt going quite to plan, Morales will just go to war blood & guts style & IMO he will score more & do more damage than JMM when this type of fight takes place. Peak Morales would simply outwork peak Marquez like he did peak Barrera by throwing & landing more punches & responding with fury every good punch or combo landed by JMM. Ps. Morales actually has a good defence when in boxing mode, see the Ayala & 2nd MAB fight for proof... he just doesnt mind taking 1 to give 2 when in war mode. Morales W12 Marquez UD
If this is at 126 which both fought at this is how i rate it. Power i would say even. Speed i would have to say JMM Chin come on man at 126 no contest Morales. JMM has always had shaky legs but great recooperating powers. Defense obviously JMM. Back at 126 he was a cautios counterpuncher thats why he wasnt as famous as MOrales and Barrera. There really wouldnt be a weight advantage since it would be at the time they both fought at 126. And if it was now well there would be no way it would be at 126. Outcome - Hmm i have thought about this match up alot. Both at 126 i would have to say Morales. He could either box or brawl and with his chin i have to give him the edge. I think it would be a FOTY candidate hell even decade. It would start out with them boxing for the first few rounds and once things get going i can see both guys getting stunned and JMM going down but coming back. Morales chin would give him the edge. It would be a very close UD or an SD. Man what could have been...
The first & third fights were razor thin & could have gone either way but Morales won that second fight without doubt. The point I made about the first Morales-Barrera fight was that Morales beat Barrera by sheer workrate & energy, answering everything MAB threw & throwing & landing more throughout... now, that version of MAB was more active than Marquez IMO + Barrera had a better chin than JMM & was able to take what Erik dished out that night despite getting a busted up face... I see JMM tasting canvas once or twice, getting up, being outworked & losing a decision. Morales chin, power & workrate would be decisive.
For me Morales wins. I know JMM did a good job on handling Pacquiao, but i dont think he would have handled Morales' intensity. Close though.
