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In dominating Erik Morales, Zahir Raheem received not the career validation he deserved, but affirmation that few in the industry appreciated the technical tools with which he skillfully disassembled Morales, and wished not to witness Raheem in action again. Little had changed since the Rocky Juarez fight, in which Raheem was hindered into defeat by the inappropriate behavior of referee Robert Gonzalez. No outcry against Gonzalez’ actions offered consolation to Raheem whose plight was forsaken because he was a boxer with a taste for the sweet science, while Juarez was a fighter with a concussive left hook made for television.
Discriminating tastes held Raheem in contempt for his defeat of Morales. The performance of Raheem’s life became known as an insolent act; an unforgivable intrusion to Morales’ future plans.
Damage control statements from Morales himself painting Raheem as reluctant to engage were believed by many even as they emanated from the Mexican’s battle-worn visage. Stubborn to the last, Morales would only concede that he miscalculated the move to lightweight and that he would find a way to master Raheem another day.
Soon, all was forgiven and Manny Pacquiao spectacularly finished what Raheem had begun, only Pacquiao’s ongoing deification continued while Raheem’s greatest night faded into obscurity and he faced the road to nowhere and its evermore circuitous route.
Raheem’s dilemma is not that he cannot fight, nor that he does not win well, it is that he fights and wins in a manner that pays homage to style, finesse and technical prowess, and unfortunately for most, that’s not enough. Fight fans want to be jolted out of their seats and have their senses overwhelmed with awesome displays of power. [details]
Discriminating tastes held Raheem in contempt for his defeat of Morales. The performance of Raheem’s life became known as an insolent act; an unforgivable intrusion to Morales’ future plans.
Damage control statements from Morales himself painting Raheem as reluctant to engage were believed by many even as they emanated from the Mexican’s battle-worn visage. Stubborn to the last, Morales would only concede that he miscalculated the move to lightweight and that he would find a way to master Raheem another day.
Soon, all was forgiven and Manny Pacquiao spectacularly finished what Raheem had begun, only Pacquiao’s ongoing deification continued while Raheem’s greatest night faded into obscurity and he faced the road to nowhere and its evermore circuitous route.
Raheem’s dilemma is not that he cannot fight, nor that he does not win well, it is that he fights and wins in a manner that pays homage to style, finesse and technical prowess, and unfortunately for most, that’s not enough. Fight fans want to be jolted out of their seats and have their senses overwhelmed with awesome displays of power. [details]
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