By Cliff Rold - “El Terribleeeee…”
When Michael Buffer, or any other ring announcer, extended the “e” at the end of Erik Morales’s nickname in pre-fight introductions, it was enough to raise the pulse of anyone watching. Goosebumps might creep onto the forearms.
Erik Morales was fighting and that meant, almost always, that one was about to see a FIGHT.
Twice over the years it meant the Fight of the Year. At least a half dozen other times, it meant a solid runner up. That level might not be attainable any more given with the ravages of time and age, but the goosebumps remain. To limited fanfare, after almost three years out of the ring, Morales is on the comeback trail. In March, he returned in a crowd-pleasing scrap with Jose Alfaro. This Saturday, he’ll face Willie Limond (33-2, 8 KO) of Scotland.
They aren’t names on par with Morales’s best foes of the past, but his presence still means fight and Limond will know he was in one Sunday morning.
Let the debate rage about whether or not Morales, at 34, has much to gain by continuing or should be continuing at all. It’s enough to assume the best Morales gone, to feel safe in reflecting on how the best Morales should be regarded. With titles in three weights classes and wins against some of the best of the 1990’s and 2000’s, the question is asked:
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