By Mark Hepplestall: In what was billed as the biggest mismatch of 2011 Living Legend Erik Morales (51-7, 35 KO’s) lost the closest of fights to Marcos Maidana (30-2, 27 KO’s), but has every right to feel aggrieved. At the beginning of the match Morales was a 6/1 underdog to win the fight by any method and was expected to be knocked out within 4 rounds. Morales said at the press conference “am I the only one who thinks I will win?, I know what I am doing”, well Erik, a lot of people think you won that fight, this is at least a moral victory as it shows that Morales is still good enough to fight for titles.

The final judges’ scores were: 114-114, 116-112, 116-112, however any real boxing fans, who take the sport back to basics and realises that meaningless coming forward aggression throwing 4 or 5 shots, landing 1 missing the rest and then taking 2 or 3 shots in the process is clearly not good boxing and for that reason those judges should be ashamed of themselves.

Marcos Maidana took round 1, he landed the better shots, including a number of jabs and a big uppercut that then closed the right eye of Morales for the remainder of the fight. Morales didn’t look in that much trouble, this was a clear round for Maidana.

Round 2 was a much better round by Morales as he established a jab, opened up with flurries and made Maidana look crude and a one trick pony just looking for that big shot (which would never arrive), Maidana looked awful in missing his shots, which then made Morales look better by landing his own, at the end of this round it was a clear round for Morales.

Through rounds 3 to 7 Morales fought in bursts, he would allow Maidana to throw as many shots as he liked at him, blocked many, moved out of the way of others and obviously some were point scoring shots, but when it looked bad Morales came back with 5 and 6 shot flurries which even seem to hurt Maidana, putting the slugger on the back foot were he didn’t know what to do. Maidana also kept missing wildly throughout these rounds and his corner was very worried and knew he was behind on the cards. Bad news for Maidana was, throwing so many huge punches to no effect and then taking punishment in return was taking a lot out of the tank and he looked spent by round 6, round 7 was a huge round in the scoring as Morales looking tired also changed his game plan to counter punching Maidana, which resulted in Maidana taking a huge left hook that buckled the Argentineans knees and put him on the back foot for the remainder of the round. Throughout these rounds I gave Maidana round 3 but every other round to Morales, some were close but I gave the thought the boxer edged it through better skill, do not forget the sport is called boxing not slugging.

Round 8 was a big round for Maidana, he threw the kitchen sink at Morales here, but Morales may have lost the round but didn’t look hurt, and even answered all of the punches Maidana threw with flurries of his own. Maidana was clearly gassed at the end of this round but got the 10/9 point, he was hoping for much more.

Round 9 was a huge round for Morales, adding up my scores he only needed one more point to win the fight and Maidana who was clearly gassed after the last round was taking a breather, he hardly landed a shot to be truthful, Morales kept Maidana on the back foot and opened up with the jab leading to 3 and 4 shot flurries, this was a definite round for Morales, however by this time going into the 10th Morales was clearly gassed.

After Maidana’s corner screamed at him saying they need a big round, Maidana came out and won a close round, Morales who was clearly tired and fighting with one eye was losing the first minute of every round, then coming back with his own work in the second minute when Maidana was tired, and both trying to impress the judges in the final minute, Morales was trying to break up the fight at this point and didn’t use his jab as much as in the first half of the fight. Close round but Maidana won it.

Round 11 was a big round for Maidana, Morales clearly was taking a breather and didn’t throw that many shots, possibly saving it all up for a last hurrah in the final round, Maidana won that round.

Round 12 saw Maidana’s corner shouting “3 minutes”, they knew Maidana either needed the knockout or could not afford to lose the round. Maidana once again threw the kitchen sink at Morales to no effect, Morales had taken his foot off the gas possibly thinking he had done enough to win and also because he was very tired. At the end of the round even though Maidana had won the round he didn’t celebrate and it looked like he lost the war.

With the crowd shouting “El Terrible” the result was ominous, but the judges were taking a long time collating these results. Michael Buffer takes place with the first card 114-114 (fair), and both other judges 112-116 to Maidana (joke). The gasp of the crowd, the look of total shock on Maidana’s corners faces, oh yeah you just witnessed daylight robbery. Maidana severely embarrassed after the fight offers Morales a rematch, dangerous proposition considering Morales may have 2 eyes for that fight. Great bout by Morales, maybe he doesn’t need the rematch and will be offered a fight against either Jab Judah or Juan Manuel Marquez, maybe next time people won’t rule the living legend out. Lastly if you love Maidana or hate Maidana, it is back to the drawing board, maybe a few more fights needed and a lot of training needed before stepping up for a real world title.