Erik Morales: I'm Very Confident of Beating Maidana

By Alfredo Jaime Gómez, notifight.com

Erik "El Terrible" Morales (51-6, 35KOs) started training camp at the Ceremonial Otomi Center with a hard focus on his upcoming fight against Argentine puncher Marcos Maidana (29-2, 27KOs), scheduled for April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The former triple world champion starts running in the morning for 50 minutes in the high plain of Las Navajas and then goes to the gym.

Morales confirmed that "I asked Golden Boy Promotions for strong opponent like Juan Manuel Marquez, but this man refused and then I asked for a strong fighter like Maidana, who has a good name, and an agreement was reached."

Érik said "my mood has not change about anything. On the contrary, I still have a firm idea of being crown champion for a fourth time and it doesn't matter whether it's going to be the title of the WBC or the WBA. For this fight I feel very good physically and ready with great confidence, in the same way as when I beat Manny Pacquiao [in 2005]."

He said - "everything I have achieved is not by chance and was based on a drastic change in my private life and sports. For example, I've gone for one year and five months without tasting alcohol and watching the food I eat. Now I always perform with maturity, responsibility and discipline."

He acknowledged that "before long my body forced him no rest it needed, he fought in divisions in which he was not happy. From the signature I'm sure."

Regarding Maidana he stated - "I respect him, but I have confidence because of my experience and the preparation that my father will give me to achieve success."