Jose Sulaiman says Erik Morales must count himself out of a ring return.

By James Blears

WBC President Jose Sulaiman says that Mexican boxing superstar Erik Morales must say adios to boxing forever - and like no tomorrow!

After eighteen-years of dazzling amateur and pro-ring marvels, involving some of the greatest lower weight epics of the last quarter of a century, Erik is still toying with the idea of trying to secure a rematch with WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz. David recently defeated him in a thrilling Windy City contest, which was highly competitive for the first six rounds. Erik decked Diaz in the opening stanza, and then went on to swell David’s right eye to the size of a Tsar plum.

However, Erik was visibly tiring down the home stretch and lost all of those rounds, so his defeat was literally on the cards.

Don Jose has spoken with Erik recently and strongly advised him to ring logical changes in his life. He’s already astutely developed himself into a promoter of boxing and wrestling, as well as a very successful businessman.

Don Jose stressed: “ I have been trying to convince Erik not to continue in boxing. He has been one of the greatest boxers ever in Mexico. He has a good way of living, didn’t spend all of his money and he is very intelligent. I believe that Erik should retire and keep his mind the way it is, and not be subject to a punch that at this time and at this age could hurt really him.

“Look! When a boxer goes to the ropes and tries to fight from there, it means that he has no more legs. And I told him, why did you go to the ropes because that’s where you were being punched? And he replied- well, it was easier for me. That is a way to say he has no legs any more.”

Don Jose also commented that Erik had complained to his Promoter Bob Arum of a headache after the Diaz fight.

The lingering doubt, and sticking point in all of this, is like so many great champions, Erik is professionally proud, and a trifle stubborn.

He is therefore more than peeved to go out with a loss, still craving that final win….but at the very highest level. However, that elusive prize of becoming the first Mexican gladiator to win titles in four different weight divisions is now out of even his mighty reach. 

Although Erik was defeated twice by the incredible pound for pound puncher Manny Pacquiao, it must be remembered that to date, he’s the only Mexican fighter to have bettered Pacquiao, albeit initially, when he was a prime cut above Manny.

Don Jose didn’t pull his punches by adding: “My message to Erik is that he should definitely not continue in boxing. He is the pride of the WBC and a hero in Mexico. He has absolutely nothing left to prove. He doesn’t have to fight any more in the ring and I don’t think he will.”