By Matthew Hurley
As Erik Morales prepares himself for his September 10th bout against Zahir Raheem, the mighty Mexican from Tijuana continues to bask in the glow of a long sought after respect from the boxing community. While always a fan favorite, Morales has for years now been unfairly misjudged since his first fight against arch rival Marco Antonio Barrera in February of 2000.
In that fight, a heavily favored “El Terrible” battled what many thought was a shopworn “Baby Faced Assassin” and won a controversial decision. In the bout’s aftermath, Barrera, whose career resurrection was so unexpected, became the good guy and Morales, inexplicably, became the villain. Two more wonderful scraps between the two did nothing to alter their positions. Marco was number one and Erik, seething, was number two.
All that changed in March of 2005.
That night, as a significant underdog, Morales beat Manny Pacquiao – the Filipino whirlwind who had knocked out Barrera. Morales mixed his attack to confuse Pacquiao and as the fight wore on “Pacman” realized what so many excellent fighters come to realize when facing “El Terrible”. The man has a cast iron chin, ferocious intensity and unlimited courage that compliment his myriad skills.
With the win, many in the boxing world who had previously acknowledged Morales’ talent, but underestimated just how great he really was, stepped back and took a long hard look at what this future Hall of Fame fighter has accomplished in his career.
As a perusal of his record revealed one tough opponent after another and one thrilling performance after another, any doubt about his greatness as a boxer was put to rest. Now the realization became, “Wow, how much longer will we be privileged to watch this man ply his craft?” In the end, that’s all Erik ever wanted – respect. It’s why he fights so furiously and why he fearlessly takes on all comers.
Zahir Raheem does present some problems for Morales. He’s a speedster with good boxing skills. In the past Erik has had three flaws that have contributed to his two decision losses to Barrera and some of the tougher fights of his career.
First, Morales is only average, or above average, in hand and foot speed. He compensates for this with a unique ability to throw straight right hands to the body to slow his target down and then rip vicious uppercuts to the head to finish off his prey. He also grows stronger as the fight wears on. Against Barrera this kept him even in all three bouts, regardless of what the scorecards read.
The second, is he fights down to the level of his opposition. He has underestimated opponents in the past – most egregious in his first bout with Guty Espadas in 2001 and with In Jin Chi that same year. Both fights were close and led to many criticisms of Morales’s worth as a top ten fighter. But Erik’s toughness and relentless aggression bailed him out in both fights.
His third flaw is the one that fans actually appreciate. He oftentimes makes fights more difficult for himself than they should be. There is a machismo involved in this that is also wrapped up tightly in Mexican pride. This was never more apparent than in the final round of his bout with Pacquiao. Awaiting the bell, his father and trainer begged him not to do anything foolish.
Once the bell rang Morales, his warrior’s instinct surging, switched to the southpaw stance against his left-handed foe as if to say, “I’ll give you one chance to knock me out.” The power punching Pacquiao, probably in disbelief at his good fortune, did just that and wobbled Morales. But that hard-headedness is what makes Erik Morales so exciting to watch. He refused to switch back to the orthodox stance. Instead, he did what he always does – he planted his feet and went to war. And the crowd loved it.
Zahir Raheem probably doesn’t have the power to hurt Erik Morales. In fifty professional fights, he has never been down (the slip against Barrera in their first go round was incorrectly ruled a knockdown.) But Erik could suffer a let down, which is dangerous, particularly for big time boxers. He is coming off four successive high profile fights. The first was Jesus Chavez, in which he won the WBC super featherweight title. Then he took on Carlos Hernandez in which he annexed the IBF super featherweight title. After all that he battled with Barrera and Pacquiao. His resume is impeccable, but exhausting.
Yet with Manny Pacquiao fighting on the under card and a rematch all but set should both fighters win, Erik should be primed and ready. Look for him to be in the mode he was in his return bout with Guty Espadas. That night he destroyed the man who gave him hell once before and knocked him unconscious in the 3rd round.
Regardless of how he looks, those fans, writers and ringside commentators will nod in appreciation when “El Terrible” steps through the ropes. He has given so much and provided one thrill after another. He cannot be denied any longer – not by anyone.
It was for respect that he has fought so long and so hard. He has been resentful in the past for every slight leveled against him, and justifiably so. Erik Morales has that respect now and knowing the intense desire that burns inside of him he will fight even more furiously to keep it.