By Gerardo Granados: Erik “El Terrible” Morales was supposed to fight against Juan Manuel Marquez next April 9th, and the winner would become the first Mexican boxer to achieve championships in four different weight divisions; negotiations failed so now he will be facing Argentinean power hitting Marcos Rene Maidana for the vacant WBA World light welterweight title.
The fight against Marquez might have been more difficult for Morales because of the boxing skills of veteran Juan Manuel, who has a lot more experience and is a much better boxer than Maidana. Now Morales will face a young lion that is hungry for fame and glory. If the fight against Marquez could have turned in to a war, the fight against Maidana will turn in to a vicious war between two brave fighters that will give the audience excitement while it last.
Morales isn’t so old, he is 34 years old but is clear that his skills are diminished; after been retired for a couple of years he hasn’t look “impressive” in his comeback fights against average fighters but still managed himself to win one fight by KO and by UD 12 twice, previous his retirement he lost his last four fights (two by KO against Congressman Manny Pacquiao).
It has been reported that Marcos Maidana will be trained by hall of fame trainer Ignacio Beristain, and this could be a big chance for Maidana to become a more complete fighter. “El Chino” is mostly known as a brawler but he might learn a few tricks from veteran trainer Beristain. Maidana is a good fighter but a limited one, he is very strong and has great power, but he isn’t an outstanding boxer, his defense is average, he was out boxed by Khan until he hurt him but still wasn’t able to finish off Khan a couple of times during his bout; in his fight against Kotelnik he showed that he can be defeated by a good but not necessarily great boxer, and also showed that he is quite limited as a brawler who goes forward picking punches, who tends to stay in front of his rival keeping pressure but lacking of mobility; Marcos hasn’t fight against many top fighters in his boxing career and haven’t faced experienced fighters as Morales yet.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
Erik Morales: 5´8” height – 72” reach / age 34 / T57-W51(35)-L6(2)-D0 / former WBC – WBO super bantamweight, WBC featherweight and WBC – IBF super featherweight champion.
Notables: Kenny Mitchel (WBO super bantam / 3*), Hector Acero Sanchez (WBC super bantam / 4*), Daniel Zaragoza (WBC bantam, WBC super bantam / 22*), Jose Luis Bueno (WBC super fly / 5*), Junior Jones (WBA World bantam, WBO super bantam, IBO feather / 9*), Wayne McCullough (WBC bantam / 9*), Marco Antonio Barrera (WBO super bantam, WBC – IBO feather, WBC – IBF super feather / 26*), Kevin Kelley (WBC feather / 5*), Guty Espadas Jr (WBC feather / 4*), In-Jin Chi (WBC feather / 7*), Paulie Ayala (WBA World bantam, IBO super bantam / 8*), Jesus Chavez (WBC super feather, IBF light / 5*), Carlos Hernandez (IBF super feather /5*), Manny Pacquiao (WBC light middle, WBO welter, IBO light welter, WBC light, WBC super feather, The Ring featherweight world champion, IBF super bantam, WBC fly / 15*), David Diaz (WBC light / 3*) and Jose Alfaro (WBA World light /2*).
Marcos Rene Maidana: 5´9” height – 70” reach / age 27 / T31-W29 (27)-L2 (0)-D0.
Notables: Amir Khan (L UD12 / WBA World light welter / 4*), DeMarcus Corley (WBO light welter / 6*) and Andriy Kotelnik (L SD12 / WBA World light welter / 6*).
Morales is very smart inside the ring, great body puncher, but doesn’t has the speed or mobility that he used to have to outbox Maidana so he will have to trade with power hitting Maidana and that might determine the outcome of the fight. Morales still has a good chin and good stamina but at light welterweight he might not have enough power to stop Maidana. When Morales was 27 years old he was the WBC featherweight champion, and was former WBC – WBO super bantamweight champion, meanwhile Maidana at age 27 has only been the interim WBA World light welterweight champion; so it is clear that the quality as boxers are very different between these two.
Maybe the fact that Morales has nothing to loose and has everything to win might motivate him to achieve what most think is impossible and become the first Mexican boxer to conquer titles in four weight divisions. Maidana on the other hand can add to his record a big name if he wins but if he looses then it might hurt his boxing career.
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