The Erik Morales vs. Juan Manuel Marquez Debate

Yeah. You don't have to like him but I can't let these dudes get away with trying to downplay his skill level. all it takes is one great fight and an aggressive dispostition and you ll be relegated to a cave man i guess.....Morales was one of the most skill fighters in a deep era...sometimes his warrior side got in the way....If he didnt war with Barrera so much he couldve won the series IMO....he had the advantage outside and Barrera had it inside with his hooks and short shots.....well he wouldnt be el terrible fighting like a mini ward i guess

i always admired the way he could alter his right hand in mid swing and his punch variety....he was very skilful and exciting to boot. his feints were very good too Yeah. You don't have to like him but I can't let these dudes get away with trying to downplay his skill level.

marquez is the better fighter head to head most people only know marquez from 130 lbs + where he looked mad slow look at how he fast and explosive he was at 127, dude was a freak of nature at that weight morales never really impressed me tbh, but ppl just like his style of fighting barrera is better than morales JMM was so impressive at 126....some fighters throw a counter punch...he threw counter combos....some of the sweetest off a slip ive ever seen and he had every punch in the book at his disposal

You just ain't studying hard enough, bruh. Know your Morales and understand what he's doing. The feints he uses, how he sets up his combos, how he sets traps, how he creates openings. Morales is the definition of a master technician if you know what your watching. i always admired the way he could alter his right hand in mid swing and his punch variety....he was very skilful and exciting to boot. his feints were very good too

Great fighters no doubt, but better than Chavez Sr or Ricardo Lopez? i was saying they were top ten I have Lopez over Chavez and Chavez over and Barrera I swip swap MORALES and Chavez all the time JMM is behind Lopez but ahead of ahead of the other guys imo LOPEZ had the consistency and was dominant vs some good little fighters Chavez technically lost a few of his big ones...got a gift draw vs whitaker and arguably lost to juan laporte and rocky lockridge in close fights Lopez was the great straw weight of all time and if you are considered the best in any weight class in history, you should be near the top in ATG lists p4p lopez is the most complete mexican fighter of all time

These two were great, but The Baby-Faced Assassin bested them both. Jay Nady robbed Barrera against Marquez by not calling the KD. Only Pacquiao ever clearly owned Marco. i like barrera two but these guys were able to beat fighters that MAB couldnt. MAB is right up there with them but IMO just behind them.

oooooooooo....**** just got real....these two for me are the top 10 mexican fighters of all time. i have to think on this one Great fighters no doubt, but better than Chavez Sr or Ricardo Lopez?

Not as a technician. like i said he had a fan friendly style. You just ain't studying hard enough, bruh. Know your Morales and understand what he's doing. The feints he uses, how he sets up his combos, how he sets traps, how he creates openings. Morales is the definition of a master technician if you know what your watching.

Erik Morales never impressed you? FFS. Not as a technician. like i said he had a fan friendly style.

marquez is the better fighter head to head most people only know marquez from 130 lbs + where he looked mad slow look at how he fast and explosive he was at 127, dude was a freak of nature at that weight morales never really impressed me tbh, but ppl just like his style of fighting barrera is better than morales Erik Morales never impressed you? FFS.

marquez is the better fighter head to head most people only know marquez from 130 lbs + where he looked mad slow look at how he fast and explosive he was at 127, dude was a freak of nature at that weight morales never really impressed me tbh, but ppl just like his style of fighting barrera is better than morales

It's been a long time since this once repetitive topic has been discussed. Basically, this is a 3 part question: 1. Who is the more complete well rounded fighter and why? 2. Who has the better resume and accomplishments and why? 3. Who would have won the head to head match-up at or near their primes and why? I'll think about it and give my thoughts later. 1. Certainly Morales. On several occasions JMM looked poor and ineffective in fights where his opponent didn't initiate all the action. Morales could do it all, he could lead or counterpunch, box or brawl, fight slow or fight fast. Fat and bloated he still made Maidana and Garcia look foolish a lot of the time. His body was failing but his mind was levels above. 2. Harder to call. But Morales achieved a lot before JMM or Pac even arrived on the scene. That was his peak and it tends to be forgotten. JMM, outside of Pac, has a very good record but not a great one. Starching Pac balances the scales I guess. 3. Morales I think. Barrera was well over the hill and gave JMM a hell of a fight in 2007. With Erik's boxing ability, length, chin, and power I reckon he has an answer for most of the questions JMM will ask him. Fundamentally, I don't see Marquez outfighting him, and I don't believe he would outbox him either.

I'd choose morales over marquez prime for prime.

1.Morales 2.Morales 3.I think Morales just edges it. Man this would be one of my dream fights, my two favorite Mexican fighters in back and forth war. I wish this fight and the Morales vs Hamed fight had happened.

Marquez Morales Can't decide

Barrera fought in even terms with JMM for 80% of the fight. If Nady calls the KD and MAB doesn't get so reckless we are talking about a 1 pt. Fight most likely for JMM but could be either way. That was a Barrwra who was less game at that stage than Marquez. That considered I think Morales could definitely win.

With legends like these I don't really think in terms of one being "better". Yea, maybe Marquez was technically better but Morales was more entertaining. They both fall under the category of "Badass Mexican Legends".

Marquez has defense, what he doesn't have is a lot of head movement or rather, he leaves his head and body squred up and centered 90% of the time, that's why his face/chin suffers a lot of damage....he relies on his hands to parry a bit, his counterpunches to stop the opponent on his tracks or misdirect the punch and when he is more defensive, he moves his waist and body up and down very well to avoid shots, but he leaves his head centered and forward and if you avoid his defenses, his head eats the full shot. It's a price he's willing to pay too, because he's always focused on throwing back after. But yeah stylistically that doesn't play right with a skilled fighter looking to touch him and get out...Pacquiao overcommited even when boxing and usually just throws 1-2's, that's why their third fight is one of JMM's best defensive displays.

some underrating Morales' skills Morales was actually too naturally skilled for his own good (didn't bother to work on the little things like Marquez). Bloated Morales nearly beat Maidana and Garcia. His feigns are legendary, but so are JMM combos I love both of them to death. JMM has had a longer career. However, on their best night, there is NO WAY IN HELL Terrible doesn't drop JMM a couple of times. I don't see JMM dropping Erik. His length, chin, feigns, heart were something to behold. Two of my favorite ever. In their prime, Morales beats JMM. I want to make clear they are both my children, however.

Morales in all 3 counts. piss drinker ain't on Morales level. specially in the well rounded dept. JMM is a great counterpuncher but a ****ty come forward fighter everytime he's been forced to lead, he's looked awful Yeah JMM is one dimensional, he cannot fight going forward at all everytime he tries to pressure a guy thats when he gets dropped and hit. I still cant believe someone said he has GREAT defense? The man doesn't slip shots or hold or block shots at all, he gets hit he relies purely on counter combos timing guys off the back foot. of Morales, Barrera, and Pacquiao, Marquez actually has the worst defense of the bunch, he has probably been hit and dropped the most of all of them, only thing about Marquez is the guy is unknockoutable and super resilient he can take a beating and keep on ticking, he is the guy who can comeback from the worst bloodiest beating and still knock you out cold like in the 4th Manny fight, he was taking a savage beating with blood squirting from the hole on the bridge of his nose and still wasn't going to go down.