Ok, I will admit it. I didn’t think Erik “El Terrible” Morales had it in him.
Last time I saw the three-time world champion in person in Tijuana, MX, he was well over 200 lbs. Some time later, I heard he was planning on coming back to the ring and the cracks about his weight began in full force.
As press releases and interviews began to make the rounds in the Latin American boxing media with their respective photos, it was obvious that Morales was working hard and losing the weight.
Despite the 34-year-olds hard work at dropping the weight, I believed that his inactivity after two and a half years of retirement added to the youth and activity of his opponent, former lightweight champion Jose Alfaro of Nicaragua, was going to be too much for the native of the tough Zona Norte of Tijuana.
I was wrong.
As the official weigh-in rolled around last Friday night, it was obvious that Morales had lost a massive amount of weight in the six months he prepared himself for the bout, with the last two and a half at the Otomi Mountains of south central Mexico. Despite the weight loss, Morales still looked overweight and more like an opponent than the relentless warrior he made his name on.
Alfaro and I were in for a rude awakening.
As as I sat at a local Mexican seafood restaurant in Chula Vista, CA, with my cousin and another friend, Isra, beers in hand (Isra’s and mine from the bar, my cousin’s from the cougar that took a liking to him),a drunk shaved-head guy with a gold AK-47 hanging from his neck milling around and Norteño music blaring from the three piece conjunto in the corner, Morales made his ring entrance at the Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, MX, with a huge entourage including the lovable Cepillin and a couple of wrestlers, he looked even bigger than the day before, with his love handles clearing over his trunks.
It didn’t matter as he proceeded to give the one dimensional Alfaro a boxing lesson.
Now, there is no secret why Alfaro was chosen to be the folly for Morales. Although the Central American possesses knock out power, it would be difficult to think that he would carry it twelve pounds his usual weight class plus it was obvious that Alfaro had only one speed and that was forward with minimal defense.
After a shaky start in which Alfaro was able to land some hard shots, Morales took over and after cutting the brow of his opponent with a crisp over hand right early on, began to take over the rounds by slight margins.
Once Morales realized that he would not be able to knock out Alfaro, he proceeded to out box the Nicaraguan to the completion of the twelve rounds, huffing and puffing along the way.
It was a sight to see as the 2010 Morales looked like a puffed up version of the 122 lbs. “Terrible” that annihilated Daniel Zaragoza to win his first title. Morales displayed the boxing skill, warrior mentality and ring cunning of his lighter self but in an older and slower shell of himself which proved that he could still punch with precision and slip punches effectively. Although Alfaro has been crowned a champion himself, the disparity of skill and will to win was widening by the round.
After the bout, the proud Morales mentioned that he wanted to fight one more time in Mexico and then go after a title in the 140 lbs. weight class. After 3-4 beers and the euphoria of watching the great Morales have his hand raised one more time, I believed him.
Then reality set in.
Although Morales looked good, he didn’t look great. At 140 lbs. I am sure that his physique would not be what it once was but it would be better than the 7 pounds heavier version as well as his speed and reflexes.
I would love to see him fight Ricky Hatton, a fight that my cousin suggested, or even maybe Juan Manuel Marquez, in a war long over due but Morales can not compete with the elite of the division like Timothy Bradley, Amir Khan or Devon Alexander. I wouldn’t put him in even against Victor Ortiz, Lamont Peterson or Juan Urango.
At least for last Saturday night, “El Terrible” showed us why he is considered one of the best Mexican fighters to ever lace up gloves… even if it was a shell of his former self.
Photos by Notifight