Thoughts on Maidana/Morales?

I had Maidana by 2 points (7 rounds to 5) I felt the fight was even (5 rounds a piece) going into the 10th. Wow Morales! The old warrior showed so much skill to hang in there given it was his 58th fight in a long hard hard career. Subtle positing on the inside and an acute sense of when his opponent was trying to rest, Erik would time his offense just perfectly - Ring Generalship of the highest skill there.

I disagreed with the HBO team scoring, I had Maidana sweeping the early part of the fight winning 5 of the first 6 rounds (too much volume, yes a lot of it was ugly but you have to score it especially the bruising inside right hand that Chino would bully Erik with). Morales came on so hard in the mid rounds 7,8,9. Was so much fun to watch.

I wouldn't complain with a draw but to have Morales winning even by a point seems a stretch.

Its crazy to see Morales eye injury and even crazier to think he fought again barely 5 months later. The cojones on that guy.

 

What more could have Chino done?

He mugged and mauled Morales for the first 4 rounds. utside of dropping him Maidana did everything possible yet the old man was still there.

At times Maidana would hold him and smash that right hand to the body and Morales had no strength to hold him off, he was getting ragdolled but Erik is as arrogant as they come. Give credit to Morales the second half of the fight was a different fight, I have no idea where Morales found the strength to do what he did. Morales legitimately stunned and backed off Chino several times. That's not lack of trying that's high level fighting skills, especially when you are diminished and should not really be fighting (58th pro fight- are you kidding me? and still putting on a brawl like that).

 

Worst shape of his career? Maidana was swinging away in the 11th and 12th rounds - sure he was tired but still banging away with power. Maidana did look very tired in the 6th and 7th rounds, he was visibly blowing air but he got a second wind. Here is the compubox Maidaina threw 89 punches in the last round more punches than any other round! (http://www.***********.com/forums/view.php?pg=morales-maidana-compubox). Maidana through nearly 1000 punches if thats out of shape please tell me what is.

Are you suggesting Maidana carried him? I didn't see that at all.

 

I see your point but feel you are not crediting Morales with much. All good though.