Erik Morales to stage comeback in March against Alfaro – News

By Boxing News - 01/24/2010 - Comments

Image: Erik Morales to stage comeback in March against Alfaro – NewsBy Jim Dower: According to ESPN writer Dan Rafael, 33-year-old boxing great Erik Morales (48-6, 34 KO’s) will begin a six fight comeback on March 27th against former World Boxing Association lightweight champion Jose Alfaro (23-5, 20 KO’s). Morales, a former three division champion during his prime years, has lost five out of his last six bouts and hasn’t fought in three years since losing a close controversial 12 round unanimous decision to David Diaz in August 2007.

It’s unknown why Morales has decided to stage a comeback at this point. Morales had an excellent 14-year pro career with multiple big money fights against Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera. Morales fought Pacquiao three times, beating him once and losing twice. After his win over Pacquiao in 2005, weight began to become an issue for Morales, as he struggled to make weight for his super featherweight bouts with Pacquiao and subsequently lost both of them looking weight drained.

In his last fight, Morales moved up to lightweight and looked and fought a lot better, appearing to have beaten Diaz by a 12 round decision in the minds of many boxing fans. However, the decision went to Diaz, and Morales quickly retired after that fight rather than continue his career.

Morales’ fight with Alfaro will be shown on pay-per-view, Rafael reports. It’s unknown how many boxing fans will want to purchase that fight considering that Morales has been away from the sport for so many years and Alfaro isn’t a well known fighter. This is a very dangerous fight for Morales. Alfaro, only 26, is ranked number #2 in the WBC and #6 in the WBA lightweight division and considered to be one of the top fighters in the division. Morales may be making a big mistake by taking on a good fighter like Alfaro rather than seeking out a couple of tune-up bouts to get the rust off.

I’m sure that Morales would have been able to handle a fighter like Alfaro in his prime, but after three years away and with five losses out of his six fights, Morales is really taking a big gamble by taking on someone like Alfaro. That brings me to another thing. If Morales does choose to fight through the entire six fight contract through 2010 and 2011, he could wind up with six more losses on his record if he’s not really careful in selecting his opponents.

The thing with Morales is that he’s not the type of guy that will be comfortable with taking on lower level quality fighters. He wants to face the best. But after being out for three years, Morales needs to slow down his ambitions a little. He’s been in a lot of ring wars during his career and there may not be much left of his once impressive skills.

Alfaro was stopped in the 10th round by Antonio Demarco in his last fight in October 2009. Alfaro made it interesting before getting caught in the 10th round and taken out. In December 2007, Alfaro defeated Prawet Singwancha by a 12 round split decision to capture the vacant WBA lightweight crown. However, he lost his title in his next bout against Yusuke Kobori in a third round stoppage in May 2008.



Comments are closed.