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I said to a friend last week that if Morales could beat Maidana, I would've learned something about boxing in the process. Because I just didn't envisage him even going the distance.
And so I learned to never underestimate the pure fistic craft and character of an ATG, however physically past his best he may be.
That Morales, whose eye looked blown out by the end of the 1st, was able to perform with such accuracy and skill through such limited vision for the entire fight, competeting with a hungry, prime, feared, power-punching animal who was highly favored to end it in a couple of rounds, making Maidana puff and blow like that, rocking him at points, only to get the short end of the decision, seemingly just because Maidana had a strong last couple of rounds, that was angering. Official verdict be damned, maybe Erik really didn't win. Maybe he only drew on my card, or maybe he really did lose 7 or 8 rounds, I'll have to rewatch. But he far surpassed the vast majority of expectations, either way.
These kinds of transcendencies are what make this sport levels above any other. Incredible.
And so I learned to never underestimate the pure fistic craft and character of an ATG, however physically past his best he may be.
That Morales, whose eye looked blown out by the end of the 1st, was able to perform with such accuracy and skill through such limited vision for the entire fight, competeting with a hungry, prime, feared, power-punching animal who was highly favored to end it in a couple of rounds, making Maidana puff and blow like that, rocking him at points, only to get the short end of the decision, seemingly just because Maidana had a strong last couple of rounds, that was angering. Official verdict be damned, maybe Erik really didn't win. Maybe he only drew on my card, or maybe he really did lose 7 or 8 rounds, I'll have to rewatch. But he far surpassed the vast majority of expectations, either way.
These kinds of transcendencies are what make this sport levels above any other. Incredible.
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