By James Blears
It’s Erik Morales’ last chance at the big time in the ring, and he’s committed to go out blazing like a comet, by winning a title in a fourth weight category- something no other Mexican fighter has accomplished in the history of the sport.
The Promotion is being dubbed: “The War for Four,” But perhaps it might be it could also be considered as: “All four one?”
To make history, Erik must reverse an alarming trend. He’s lost four of his last five fights. He boxed beautifully to defeat Manny Pacquiao. But Manny then turned the tables with an overwhelming TKO, followed up by a crushing KO. Zahir Raheem had previously outsped him in a horrendous mismatch of styles, and prior to that, Marco Antonio edged him by less than the width of a broken nose, in a thriller to end their amazing trilogy.
What heart thumping undiluted thrills and spills Erik Morales has given us during his incredible career!
Both David Diaz and Erik, arrived horrendously late to their scheduled press conference in a plush Mexico City hotel. And reporters, who’d already dined and were on course to chew their nails down to the quick, in impatient frustration, very nearly had the pair for breakfast-chorusing them, with a symphony of whistling distaste for their tardiness.
But they were well worth that wait.
It’s David Diaz’s first defense of the WBC Lightweight title. Verbally cuter than his particular southpaw style suggests, David astutely observed: “Erik has been hit more than I have. He’s also fought better opponents than I have, and he’s got more experience than I do.
“Could you say that I’m the young guy in this thing being thirty one and him being thirty? I guess. But…plain and simple experience counts for a lot. However, I’m going to be there. I’m going to be there for twelve rounds.
“I’m enjoying this and having fun with it (the promotion). But once I get up in the ring, I’ll be just a different person. I think he’s going to go after this, and go real hard and coming out firing with all his guns loaded. So I’m expecting a great fight. And I hope he comes prepared, because I don’t want the half Morales that showed up for the last fight with Pacquiao. I want the full Morales, that I can measure my stick to.
“I’m going to bring pressure and my way of fighting. I can’t change it. What you see is what you get, and I’m going to be right there in front of him ready to fight. If I have to box, I’ll box, and do what I have to win the fight. I’m well conditioned and if we have to go twelve hard rounds, that’s what I’m prepared to do.” (mf)
“The decisive factor will be heart! Who wants it more. Plain and simple! It’s going to be a good brawl!”
The fight which is scheduled for August 4th at the All State Arena in Rosemont Illinois, is right on David Diaz’s home turf. But although Chicago is the windy city, gales also whip across the barren rocks jutting out around the Otomi high altitude training Center, perched in the chilly wooded mountains over Toluca. It’s more than a thousand meters above Mexico City, which is itself more than three thousand meters above sea level.
Over the last decade Erik has missed birthdays and Christmas times, and seen in the dawn of new years, toiling away there in its exposed greenhouse like gym, groaning against the elements, and sprinting to a pant, up its bleak lonely roads. He’s already been there for a hermit like month, and’ll spend nearly another three weeks…and then a little…cloaked in its breathtaking goliath like scenery before descending to fight David.
Noticeably taller than David, Erik will have to summon up a supreme effort to sling his shots, while also utilizing every pore of his boxing guile to pull off the improbable.
Has it really been a decade, give or take a few months, since as a stripling, he canvassed countryman Daniel Zaragoza with a mighty body blow in the eleventh to take the WBC Super Bantamweight crown? There certainly been a lot of give and take in Erik’s career since.
Always sincere in his commitment and work ethic, Erik is pledging to do his utmost to win a fourth title, have one more fight in his beloved home town of Tijuana and then walk away into the sunset, in spite of the urging of his fans for him to fight on.
Erik also said: “The money is not the number one consideration for me. At this moment there are more important considerations. This is an historic opportunity and I’m going to leave as a champion.
“Bob Arum and Fernando Beltran suggested Los Angeles, Texas or Chicago. And I said, let’s fight in Chicago. There are many Mexicans there! It’s really important for me to win a fourth title and penultimate or the ultimate fight this is extremely significant. I’ve got to work and work towards it. It’s going to be one tough fight, but I’m going to win it!”
