By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
In August 2007, former WBC / WBO super bantamweight (122 lbs) champion, WBC featherweight (126 lbs) champion, IBF junior Lightweight (130 lbs) and WBC super featherweight (130 lbs) champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales retired from boxing and the end career of a great champion fromMexico was put to rest.
But after a two year, seven month retirement, and to the disagreement of many boxing experts including myself, Erik made a comeback.
So, after a few fights against mediocre opponents, last April Erik fought the hard-puncher Marcos Maidana in a junior welterweight (140 lbs) bout.
Again, the boxing experts, including myself, were in agreement that it was a huge mistake and risk by an older Morales.
In a shocker, Erik took the younger Maidana the full 12 rounds in an interim title fight, and lost by decision in what I consider a candidate for fight of the year.
This week, September 17, 2011, the 35 year old Morales was to have fought hard-punching Lucas Matthysse for the vacant WBC super lightweight (140 lbs) title, but Matthysse withdrew from the bout last week because of a viral infection.
In not canceling this title fight opportunity, Morales will focus on a replacement opponent: top contender, hard-punching and undefeated Pablo Cesar Cano, who has 17 career knockouts in his 22 wins.
This bout is a featured attraction on the under card of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Victor Ortiz WBC welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, and will be shown live on HBO / pay-per-view.
In closing, Erik has certainly made a believer out of me as he steps into the ring on Saturday night in this title fight with the younger, 21 year old, Cano and, win, lose or draw, he has already cemented his greatness as a true Mexican ring warrior. After all, he is the last man (in 2005) to defeat today’s best “pound for pound” fighter in boxing, Manny Pacquiao. The great ones never cease to amaze me!