By Francisco Salazar
Under most circumstances, do not judge a fighter by their record.
Especially if they were not successful after their first four fights.
Junior lightweight Carlos Morales had every reason to give up on boxing after his first four fights. Rather than be disillusioned and permanently hang up the gloves, Morales persevered and is now reaping the rewards of that hard work and success.
Morales has put together 10 wins in a row and hopes to make 11 tonight against O’Nell Negron at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif.
The eight round bout will precede the 10 round bout between lightweights Jeffrey Fontanez and Marvin Quintero. Both bouts will air live on Estrella TV and on RingTVLive.com, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
Morales (11-1-1, 5 KOs) was winless after his four fights, all of which were by split or majority decision. Morales lost his first bout as a pro and followed those up with draws.
One could make a case he won some of those or all of those fights. Morales could have pointed the finger at other people, but decided it all fell on him.
“At the beginning, I didn’t take boxing seriously,” Morales told BoxingScene.com earlier this week. “I would only train two to three weeks before a fight. I wasn’t sparring a lot and I would take fights when they were offered to me.”
“I took boxing more seriously after my last loss. I got a new trainer and I’m much happier and excited where my career is at. I’m working real hard now and I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. I try not to think about the past too much because I’m just focused on my boxing and training.”
Golden Boy Promotions, who signed Morales last week, took notice of the Highland Park, Calif. resident in November of last year. Morales took a fight against Gabriel Tolmajyan on two days’ notice and defeated the talented Armenian fighter.
“I had sparred him before. I knew I was better than him.”
Morales continued his winning ways earlier this year, defeating Santiago Guevara (who was unbeaten entering the Morales fight) and Emanuel Gonzalez.
Now that he is signed with Golden Boy, has a dedicated trainer, and is on a winning streak, Morales is now looking at what the future holds for him. Should he win tonight, there is a chance he could fight again before the end of 2015, but he believes 2016 could be greater breakout year.
“I’m always learning. I believe patience has helped me out. I’m taking boxing seriously now and to be a great fighter, you have to have a great team. I’m happy to have Golden Boy promoting me and being a part of my longtime career.”
“I’m ready for anyone at 130 pounds. Here I am.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
