“El Ausente”
It’s the name of the song Erik “El Terrible” Morales has made his grand entrance to time and time again. It’s a tune that has been ingrained in my mind as the song of the Tijuana warrior. It’s the song of a man that might not have been the most physically gifted fighter in the world or even the most disciplined, but it was the tune of one of the most passionate warriors to ever step in the ring in modern times.
Sure some people might have referred to him as arrogant or classless. Yes, he might not have been the most accessible character to the media. It doesn’t matter, he was all fighter.
What would have rather had, a John Ruiz type character who would return your phone calls promptly while hugging his opponents to death, or a surly fighter who actually fought with his heart on his sleeve?
I’d take the latter everyday of the week and twice on Sundays.
Sure we might see some young boxers adopt the name of “El Terrible”. It’s similar as to how we’ll eventually see another “Sugar” and maybe even another “Pretty Boy.” I guess the real question is whether we’ll see another Erik Morales. Unfortunately the answer to that is a definitive, no.
Will we see another fighter who stood over a fallen opponent in Bobby Boy Velardez to pose for pictures? No.
Will we see another fighter rush over to their opponent and attempt to rectify an unjust knockdown call as Morales did in the final round of his first bout with Marco Antonio Barrera? No.
Will we see another fighter switch to a southpaw stance when facing a ridiculously dangerous puncher in Manny Pacquiao just to entertain the crowd? No.
Let me tell you something people. “El Terrible” is more than the moments I just described. He fought with a certain type of emotion and reckless abandon that brought out a legion of fans almost every single time he performed in the ring. His fans themselves were passionate beyond belief just like this internet hack known as, “The Boxing Bookie” still is to this day. Win, lose, or draw we stood by the Tijuana warrior because of his fighting spirit and the evidence that he fought for more than just himself. He is, was, and always will be a boxer that fought for his fans.
Yes there will be more physically gifted and disciplined fighters to come out of Mexico and across the world in the years to come. Unfortunately it’ll be nearly impossible to match the entertaining characteristics of the man nick-named “El Terrible”. I for one am sad at the thought of losing a true character in the sport of boxing and a man who was realer than real.
Erik “El Terrible” Morales.
Mexico, Mexico, Mexico!!!
“El Ausente”
ya vine de donde andaba se me cosedio volver
a mi se me afiguraba que no te volvieria ver
pareces amapolita cortada al amanecer
si porque vengo de lejos me niegas la luz del dia
se me ase que a tu esperanza le paso lo que a la mia
