By Matthew Hurley
Erik Morales once again finds himself in an awkward situation. It’s almost hard to believe that the tiny titan from Tijuana, a certain first ballot hall of fame candidate, has to again prove his worth as an all time great fighter in his January rematch with Manny Pacquiao. All the good will he established in his first victory over the “Pacman” was nearly erased when he lost his follow up bout to unheralded Zahir Raheem in such desultory fashion. No excuse, be it taking his speedy opponent lightly, or that it was a terrible stylistic match-up, or that he moved up one weight class too many can mask the fact that Erik’s storied career is in the final stretch run. And, true to form, “El Terrible” will again step into the ring to face a top tier, murderous punching foe.
But that’s Erik Morales. That willingness to take on all comers is what makes Morales both a special fighter and a fan favorite. It’s also what makes him such a formidable boxer. When his back is against the wall, when his critics are salivating in preparation to write him off, when his opposition senses weakness, Morales becomes an intensely motivated and dangerous fighter.
After difficult and less than inspiring victories over Guty Espadas and In Jin Chi, his critics were near unanimous in their estimation that Erik had seen better days and that his near decade long residence in the pound for pound club was up. Morales, forever embittered at having to co-exist with his hated rival Marco Antonio Barrera chewed on this blatant disrespect, spit it out, and turned in a remarkable string of victories over Espadas in their rematch, Jesus Chavez and Carlos Hernandez. He then took on Barrera for a third time. In an epic struggle that was nearly as good as their first battle, Erik suffered a close decision loss.
“I never wanted to fight Barrera a third time anyway,” Morales commented bitterly afterwards. “I didn’t feel it was necessary. I didn’t feel one hundred percent going in and it took me a while to get going.”
Once he did “get going” Morales closed the show strongly and nearly dropped his most hated rival at the bout’s end. But he came up a little short.
The critics pounced yet again and Morales seethed. He felt disrespected and that rage led him to do the only thing a fighter of his temperament felt was the appropriate thing to do. He took on the feared Manny Pacquiao in his very next fight. Pacquiao, the man who had knocked out Barrera, was not only a favorite son of HBO but the fastest rising star on the boxing scene.
After such a brutal fight with Barrera most felt Morales was biting off more than he could chew. He entered the bout as an underdog and again raged at what he thought was a complete lack of respect from the boxing establishment. He was surly and his contempt for HBO, and in particular broadcasters Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant bubbled over into some derisive comments during interview sessions.
Twelve rounds later, and a well deserved decision victory in his pocket, Morales not only redeemed himself but proved once and for all that he was not only one of the best fighters in the game but one of the preeminent boxers of the last ten years. He could no longer be denied.
Then he took on Zahir Raheem. It was a fight he couldn’t care less about. He would have much preferred an immediate rematch with Pacquiao but his pride and his misguided belief that the speedy trickster Raheem was nothing more than a tune up led to an embarrassing loss. If Erik Morales has one fatal flaw it has been revealed in the later stages of his career – he trains to what he perceives is the level of his competition. He thought Raheem was a walkover and it cost him. Forget the added weight and Raheem’s slickster style. Erik’s arrogance beat him before he even stepped into the ring.
And the critics pounced again.
Now he is preparing to step into the squared circle against a recharged Pacquiao and he will again find himself in the role of the underdog. It’s a position that he finds insulting. His anger was apparent at a recent press conference hyping the bout.
When Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said that they underestimated Morales the first time around and then again complained about the gloves Pacquiao was forced to wear – a situation created by his own camp – Erik’s fists clenched in frustration. Then Roach had the temerity to say that Morales only fought Raheem for the money. Morales, his blood boiling, glared at Roach. As he stood at the podium his icy tone let everyone in the room know that his focus on this return match had now become personal.
“Quit making excuses,” he snarled. “Stop bringing up the gloves. Just fight! And don’t ever say I fight for the money. I never fight for the money!”
The implication was crystal clear. Erik, once again, feels he is being disrespected not only by the media but by a man he has already beaten. He feels the wall against his back yet again and it pisses him off.
Once again his value as a fighter is being called into question and every time that has happened Erik Morales has turned in a career defining performance. It’s what elevates him to the level of greatness.
As he prepares for another in a long line of mega bouts, “El Terrible” seethes with a fiery rage and a primal need to prove himself all over again. This often underappreciated fighter truly does not fight just for the money, but for pride and respect. He feels that those are the aesthetics a true champion should fight for.
That near insatiable need for approval and the accolades of the crowd are what drives him to fistic heights most fighters never reach. It’s what makes him a great fighter – one of the best of recent times.
That fierce spirit and intense pride is also what makes him a very formidable prize fighter when he feels he has something to prove. When he steps into the ring against Manny Pacquiao, Erik Morales will be a supremely focused boxer and an extremely dangerous man. Once again, the tiny titan from Tijuana believes his legacy is on the line and that’s when “El Terrible” is at his best.
