Érik Morales

Infobox Boxer
name = Érik Morales


realname = Érik Isaac Morales Elvira
nickname = El Terrible
height = height|ft=5|in=8.5
weight = Lightweight
nationality = Flagicon|MEX Mexican
birth_date = birth date and age|1976|9|1
birth_place = Tijuana, Mexico
style = Orthodox
total = 54
wins = 48
losses = 6
draws = 0
no contests = 0
KO = 34|

Érik Isaac Morales Elvira (born September 1, 1976 in Tijuana, Mexico) is a retired Mexican professional boxer. He is a former seven-time world champion at WBC / WBO Super Bantamweight (122 lb), WBC Featherweight (126 lb), WBC Super Featherweight, WBC International Super Featherweight (130 lb), and the IBF Junior Lightweight (130 lb) divisions. Morales also defeated fifteen different world champions during the course of his career. Famous for his trilogy with fellow Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, he is considered by many to be one of the greatest fighters of his generation. He ranks #49 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Boxers Of All Time" ahead of Mike Tyson.

Career history

Early career

Legend has it, Erik Morales was born in a boxing gym, learning to box in the Zona Norte section of Tijuana. Under the tutelage of his father, Jose Morales, a fighter himself, Erik started boxing at the age of 5 and amassed a very impressive amateur career that saw him fight 114 times (108-6) and win 11 major titles in Mexico. In 1993, at the age of 16, Morales made his professional debut, knocking out Jose Orejel in two rounds. Between 1993 and 1997, he quickly climbed the ranks in the Super Bantamweight division, winning 26 fights, 20 by knockout, including wins against former champions Kenny Mitchell and Hector Acero Sanchez, before challenging for his first world title. It was during this time that he signed with promoter Bob Arum.

Super Bantamweight titles

In 1997 at the age of 21, in his first world title fight, he became the first boxer to stop the former WBC world Bantamweight champion and now member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Daniel Zaragoza via knockout in eleven rounds.

In September 1998, in another landmark fight, Morales knocked out former world champion Junior Jones of the United States. Jones went into the battle with a daunting record against Mexican fighters of 35 victories, and no losses, most notably including two victories over the previous champion, Marco Antonio Barrera, in 1996 and 1997. Also noteworthy was that Jones was entering Mexico for the first time to fight, and the fight was held at Tijuana. The fight went on to three contested rounds, before Morales knocked out Jones with two consecutive overhead right crosses in the fourth round.

On May 16, 1998, he defeated former champion Jose Luis Bueno via a second round knockout. In October 1999, Morales fought and defeated former champion Wayne McCullough of Ireland, outclassing him throughout the fight.

Morales vs. Barrera I

In February 2000, Morales defeated Marco Antonio Barrera to win the WBO Super Bantamweight title, in a fight that is considered one of boxing's classic bouts. Morales won the fight by a split decision. It was an intense battle in which both fighters were cut and battered. After the fight, Morales said, ”He was a brave fighter, and we both gave it all we had. We were both hurt during the fight. He was the biggest puncher I ever faced in the ring.” Ring Magazine named it the fight of the year.

Featherweight titles

After nine successful title defenses, Morales chose to vacate his WBC World Super Bantamweight title and his newly won WBO title in order to move up to the Featherweight division. In his second fight at this weight, he fought 33 year-old former world champion Kevin Kelley, in September 2000. Kelley was knocked down in the fifth and seventh rounds, he was finally trapped in that latter round by a flurry of five consecutive uppercuts from Morales. Supported only by the ropes, a sixth uppercut landed, and the fight was stopped. Morales won WBC Interim Featherweight title.

Morales fought again in 2000, knocking out Rodney Jones in the first round. In February 2001, he fought Guty Espadas Jr., the WBC world Featherweight champion with a thirteen fight winning streak, and whose father, Guty Espadas Sr., was also a world champion boxer. Morales won a close twelve round decision to claim his third world title.

In July 2001, Morales defeated future champion In Jin Chi of South Korea and retained his title. Chi gave a strong effort, but Morales was the sharper, harder puncher and outworked him for much of the fight. Morales was cut and swollen over the left eye in the 6th round by an accidental clash of heads, and Chi was penalized one point in the 10th round.

Morales then tasted defeat for the first time in his 42nd professional fight when he lost a unanimous decision against Barrera in June 2002. Morales constantly pressed forward and dominated much of the first half of the fight. However, he was cut on the bridge of the nose in the 2nd round, and cut and swollen over his right eye in the 8th. Barrera fought cautiously in the early rounds, but rallied as the fight progressed.

Morales bounced back with a dominating twelve round decision victory over former world champion, Paulie Ayala in November 2002. The early rounds were close, but Morales started to dominate in the middle rounds, consistently landing the harder punches and Ayala’s left eye began to swell. He slowed his pace in the late rounds and Ayala rallied, but Morales rocked him with a series of punches in the 12th round.

Morales defeated Eddie Croft in March, 2003. He scored three knockdowns and stopped Croft in the 3rd round. All the fighters on the card donated their purses to “Vamos Mexico”, a children’s charity headed by Marta Sahagun, wife of Mexican president Vicente Fox. [ [http://www.eastsideboxing.com/boxing-news/wbc1403.php World Boxing Council News ] ]

Morales defeated Fernando Velardez later that year. He knocked down Velardez in the 1st, 4th, and 5th rounds when the fight was stopped without a count. In October, 2003, Morales defeated Guty Espadas Jr. in a rematch of their first close fight. This time Morales knocked him out in three rounds.

Super Featherweight titles

Morales vacated his WBC Featherweight title and moved up to the Super Featherweight division. On February 28, 2004, Morales captured the WBC Super Featherweight title by unanimous decision over Jesús Chávez. Morales twice knocked down Chávez, which Floyd Mayweather, Jr. himself had been unable to do. Morales was rocked midway through the 1st round, but he came back to score two knockdowns in the 2nd round and managed to cut Chavez over the left eye. Chavez injured his right shoulder early in the fight and threw very few right hands, but still fought aggressively for the rest of the fight with his jab and left hooks which cut Morales over the eye in the 4th round. With the victory he became the second Mexican boxer to win a title at three separate weight divisions, the first being the acclaimed Julio César Chávez.

On July 31, 2004, Morales unified his WBC Super Featherweight title with the IBF Junior lightweight version by way of a twelve round unanimous decision over Carlos Hernández. Hernandez constantly pressed forward, but Morales boxed effectively consistently landing the harder, more accurate punches which rocked Hernandez several times.

Morales vs. Barrera III

On November 27, 2004, Morales fought Barrera for the third time in a bout for the WBC Super Featherweight title. Their highly anticipated third battle drew a capacity crowd of over 11,000. Barrera started fast and rocked Morales late in the first round and bloodied his nose in the second. Morales came back strongly in the second half of the fight and won four of the last six rounds on two judges' scorecards. The judges scored the bout 114-114, 114-115, 113-115 in favor of Barrera. Their third meeting was once again named Ring Magazine fight of the year.

Morales vs. Pacquiao I

On March 19, 2005, as a betting underdog, Morales defeated Filipino boxer, Manny Pacquiao, by a unanimous decision. During the 12th round, Morales, comfortably ahead on the scorecards, decided to brawl with the Filipino slugger, even turning southpaw during the process. In a post fight interview, HBO broadcaster Larry Merchant, asked Morales, "Why?" Morales replied by asking a question of his own, "Did you enjoy it? That's why."

Later that night, at the post-fight press conference, Erik further explained his reasoning for brawling with the Filipino slugger; “It was a great pleasure to fight this way. I think I was controlling the fight with my distance. Sometimes I need to put a little flavor into the ring. My promoter always says that I make the fights very difficult, but they're not difficult, they're fun for the public. I decided to stop myself in front of him in the twelfth round because I wanted to give the public what they deserve. It was a great round. I'm very happy about it.” [ [http://www.canadastarboxing.com/Fighters/erik-morales-profile-record.htm Canadastar Boxing: Erik Morales Profile and Bio ] ]

Morales vs. Raheem

On September 10, 2005, Morales moved up to the Lightweight division and was defeated on points by Zahir Raheem. Raheem frustrated Morales with constant lateral movement. Raheem rocked Morales in the 5th round and built a lead on the scorecards, but Morales rallied in the 11th round and staggered him with a right hand as Raheem's glove touched the canvas, but it was not scored a knockdown by referee Jon Schorle. [ [http://www.newmexicoboxing.com/fights2005/09-morpac.html Fightnews ] ]

Morales vs. Pacquiao II & III

On January 22, 2006, Morales fought Pacquiao in a rematch from their bout ten months before, and was defeated in ten rounds. Pacquiao knocked down Morales twice in the final seconds of round ten and the fight was stopped.

He fought Pacquiao for the third time in a non-championship title bout, on November 18, 2006. Morales was defeated by a knockout in three rounds. After the fight, Morales said "Maybe it's time I should no longer be doing this." He had been sat speechless in his corner for five minutes afterward. "I did everything in camp necessary to win this fight. I didn't win it. It wasn't my night...it just wasn't meant to be." [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Sports Illustrated | work = | publisher = | date = | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/more/11/19/bc.box.pacquiao.morales.ap/index.html
format = | doi = | accessdate = ] Asked by Larry Merchant whether he would retire from boxing, Morales offered, "Maybe this is the way to end it. It's a beautiful night, and there's a lot of good people (here in the audience)...it was always a pleasure to give the public great fights."

Morales vs. Díaz and retirement

Morales moved up to the Lightweight division in search of a possible fourth WBC title. During a holiday visit to the Philippines in January 2007, Morales told a local newspaper that he was fighting again but declined to name his next opponent. He stated that he had unfinished business in the boxing ring and was determined to regain recognition as a world champion. He also expressed his desire to become the first Mexican fighter to win four WBC titles in different divisions and surpass Julio César Chávez's record by campaigning at the Lightweight class of 135 lb. [The Philippine Star Sports: "Retirement not on Morales', Mind", by Joaquin Henson, January 26, 2007.]

On August 4, 2007, Morales fought David Díaz for the WBC Lightweight title and lost a close unanimous decision at the Allstate Arena. Judges Herminio Cuevas Collazo, and Robert Hecko both scored Round 1, 10-9 Morales, even though Morales knocked down Diaz in that round. Collazo then went on to score Round 2, 10-8 for Diaz, when not only a knockdown did not occur, but the two other judges saw it as a Morales round. The final scores read 114-113 (Collazo), 115-113 (Hecko) and 115-112 (Uratani), all in favor of Diaz. It was Morales' fifth loss in his last six bouts. During the post-fight press conference, Morales announced his retirement from boxing. [ [http://www.hbo.com/boxing/events/2007/0804_morales_diaz/news/instant_update.html Morales loses fight, but goes out in style] , by Nat Gottlieb, August 4, 2007 ]

Morales has stated that he will fight again in late 2009 to early 2010, after he gives his body enough time to rest. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AiRKXIatk1qNGi0qlGWZySOUxLYF?slug=ki-morales031708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Morales hits new gig out of the park - Boxing - Yahoo! Sports ] ]

Record

Morales' record consists of 48 wins, 34 of these by knockout, and 6 losses. He won seven world titles in three different weight classes and successfully defended his titles fifteen times. Morales also holds victories over champions Kenny Mitchell, Hector Acero Sanchez, Daniel Zaragoza, Junior Jones, Jose Luis Bueno, Wayne McCullough, Marco Antonio Barrera, Kevin Kelley, Rodney Jones, Guty Espadas Jr., In Jin Chi, Paulie Ayala, Jesus Chavez, Carlos Hernandez, and Manny Pacquiao

Outside the Ring

Morales was trained and managed by his father José Morales, and was promoted by Bob Arum and Top Rank organization. His brother Diego Morales is a former WBO super flyweight champion. Erik and his wife America have three children.

Erik Morales currently spends his time managing a $3.5 million budget running the parks and recreation department in Tijuana. Morales donates his salary back to the department to further help fund it. Morales was quoted as saying, "This is just a way for me to be able to thank the people who have been so good to me all my life.” [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-morales031708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Morales hits new gig out of the park - Boxing - Yahoo! Sports ] ]

References

See also

* List of super bantamweight boxing champions
* List of featherweight boxing champions
* List of super featherweight boxing champions
* List of WBC world champions
* List of IBF world champions
* List of WBO world champions
* [http://www.boxingtimes.com/rankings.html The Boxing Times - World Rankings]
* Reigning boxing champions
* Fight Night 2004
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* Notable boxing families
* List of boxing triple champions

External links

* [http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Especial_19/Optimismo_en_la_esquina_de_rik_Morales.php NotiFight.com]
* [http://boxing.about.com/od/records/a/morales.htm Erik Morales Fight-by-Fight Career Record]
*es icon [http://www.esmas.com/deportes/biografias/339287.html Erik Morales Article]
* [http://www.ringsidereport.com/rsr/news.php?readmore=461 Erik Morales' Legacy Article]
* [http://www.hbo.com/boxing/fighters/morales_erik/bio.html HBO: Fighters: Erik Morales Article]
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* [http://www.geocities.com/erikmoralesfansite/news.html Erik Morales Unofficial Website]
* [http://www.boxingtimes.com/specials/2006/btfile_morales.html The Boxing Times]
* [http://www.fightbeat.com/judgejake/ERIKMORALES.php Fight Beat]
* [http://www.15rounds.com/Columns/bbarry/frustrated-112706.php Latest Boxing News]

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