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There is one thing about Erik Morales inside a boxing ring and that is he’s exciting. No matter who he is up against there will be those on the edge of your seat moments.
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Put it this way, Morales could shadow box and it would be an exciting fight.
That’s what makes his fight September 10 at Staples Center in Los Angeles against Zahir Raheem intriguing. Sure, it may look like a mismatch because when you match the fighters on each combatant’s resume, Morales has clearly faced the better opposition and has almost double the fights. Raheem’s one chance to get on the road to a world title ended up in a unanimous decision loss to Rocky Juarez in July of last year. He also notched a win over former two-time world champion Luisito Espinoza.
With Morales, he wants to put on a good show and what ever he has to do to win, he’ll do it, no matter who it’s against.
Morales is sharing the bill with Manny Pacquiao whom “El Terrible” defeated by a thin margin in March. Pacquiao will face Hector Velazquez in the co-feature. This card is designed to drum up hype for a much anticipated rematch between the two balls of dynamite, but Morales seems less than concerned about a Pacquiao rematch.
This fight against Raheem will be his first fight at lightweight (135 pounds), and from what he was telling the media during a conference call Thursday afternoon, this may be where he wants to stay.
“It’s not up to me,” Morales said about a rematch with Pacquiao through interpreter Ricardo Jimenez. “Who knows, maybe Pacquiao may not be ready to fight me so soon.”
He seems more interested in facing the winner in the rematch between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo than fighting Pacquiao.
“I would have no problem fighting the winner between Corrales and Castillo,” Morales said. “The only reason to go back down to 130 pounds is to fight Pacquiao. That is the only reason I would go down to that weight.”
Morales made it clear he wants to add a lightweight title to his collection that already includes a super bantamweight title, a featherweight title and a super featherweight title. One more title and he surpasses Julio Cesar Chavez who won belts in three weight classes. His old nemesis Marco Antonio Barrera also has belts in three weights, and may be gunning for a fourth, but Morales said Barrera’s WBO super bantamweight (122 pounds) title doesn’t count.
“If I would have fought for a WBO title I would have won six belts,” Morales said. “The WBO doesn’t mean anything to me. If he thinks he’s a three-time champion with WBO belts then he’s wrong.”
This of course brings up the possibility of a fourth showdown with Barrera, to which Morales basically said he could take it or leave it.
“If our paths cross, they cross,” Morales said. “If they don’t, they don’t.”
One thing is for sure, Morales is totally focused on Raheem.
“All I think about is Raheem,” Morales said. “I want to put on a good showing and I want everyone to be happy. Pacquiao is not even on my mind.”
Morales said that Raheem is a complicated fighter who shows a lot of movement in the ring and he knows this will be a big opportunity for the tough Philadelphian.
At Staples Center, Morales is undefeated in three fights, defeating Mike Juarez in 2000, Injin Chi in 2001 and Guty Espadas in 2003.
A large Mexican contingent is going to show up on fight night, and they follow Morales wherever his career takes him. They better follow close behind because he’s forging his own trail and doing whatever he wants to do along the way, even if it means forgoing a big rematch with Pacquiao in pursuit of a fourth title at a higher weight class.
“I don’t depend on other people’s careers,” Morales said. “I’m following my own path.”
Link to Article^^^(read Bold Parts)
There is one thing about Erik Morales inside a boxing ring and that is he’s exciting. No matter who he is up against there will be those on the edge of your seat moments.
See More MaxTV Videos
It's good to be a member
Put it this way, Morales could shadow box and it would be an exciting fight.
That’s what makes his fight September 10 at Staples Center in Los Angeles against Zahir Raheem intriguing. Sure, it may look like a mismatch because when you match the fighters on each combatant’s resume, Morales has clearly faced the better opposition and has almost double the fights. Raheem’s one chance to get on the road to a world title ended up in a unanimous decision loss to Rocky Juarez in July of last year. He also notched a win over former two-time world champion Luisito Espinoza.
With Morales, he wants to put on a good show and what ever he has to do to win, he’ll do it, no matter who it’s against.
Morales is sharing the bill with Manny Pacquiao whom “El Terrible” defeated by a thin margin in March. Pacquiao will face Hector Velazquez in the co-feature. This card is designed to drum up hype for a much anticipated rematch between the two balls of dynamite, but Morales seems less than concerned about a Pacquiao rematch.
This fight against Raheem will be his first fight at lightweight (135 pounds), and from what he was telling the media during a conference call Thursday afternoon, this may be where he wants to stay.
“It’s not up to me,” Morales said about a rematch with Pacquiao through interpreter Ricardo Jimenez. “Who knows, maybe Pacquiao may not be ready to fight me so soon.”
He seems more interested in facing the winner in the rematch between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo than fighting Pacquiao.
“I would have no problem fighting the winner between Corrales and Castillo,” Morales said. “The only reason to go back down to 130 pounds is to fight Pacquiao. That is the only reason I would go down to that weight.”
Morales made it clear he wants to add a lightweight title to his collection that already includes a super bantamweight title, a featherweight title and a super featherweight title. One more title and he surpasses Julio Cesar Chavez who won belts in three weight classes. His old nemesis Marco Antonio Barrera also has belts in three weights, and may be gunning for a fourth, but Morales said Barrera’s WBO super bantamweight (122 pounds) title doesn’t count.
“If I would have fought for a WBO title I would have won six belts,” Morales said. “The WBO doesn’t mean anything to me. If he thinks he’s a three-time champion with WBO belts then he’s wrong.”
This of course brings up the possibility of a fourth showdown with Barrera, to which Morales basically said he could take it or leave it.
“If our paths cross, they cross,” Morales said. “If they don’t, they don’t.”
One thing is for sure, Morales is totally focused on Raheem.
“All I think about is Raheem,” Morales said. “I want to put on a good showing and I want everyone to be happy. Pacquiao is not even on my mind.”
Morales said that Raheem is a complicated fighter who shows a lot of movement in the ring and he knows this will be a big opportunity for the tough Philadelphian.
At Staples Center, Morales is undefeated in three fights, defeating Mike Juarez in 2000, Injin Chi in 2001 and Guty Espadas in 2003.
A large Mexican contingent is going to show up on fight night, and they follow Morales wherever his career takes him. They better follow close behind because he’s forging his own trail and doing whatever he wants to do along the way, even if it means forgoing a big rematch with Pacquiao in pursuit of a fourth title at a higher weight class.
“I don’t depend on other people’s careers,” Morales said. “I’m following my own path.”
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