There were weeks of negotiations to set-up a fight between legendary Mexican boxers Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez. Too bad for fight fans negotiations fell through after Marquez pulled out to pursue a third fight with Manny Pacquiao. Unfortunately for Marquez Bob Arum decided on ?Sugar? Shane Mosley as a less challenging, more profitable opponent for Pacquiao. It left Morales searching for a replacement after Marquez left the negotiations table. He settled for hard-hitting Marcos Maidana as Marquez?s replacement, which caused fans to inquire if Morales hit his head somewhere when he made the decision.
We all feared for Morales? health because he was definitely on the ugly downside of his career. He?s been through the toughest wars with Marco Antonio Barrera and Pacquiao. In his last three fights he looked shot against journeymen opponents. So, why did he choose an opponent whose hands of stone forced Victor Ortiz to quit? No one really knew until Morales seemingly turned back time and fought Maidana punch for punch with one eye swollen shut.
Morales made a fool of all of us by showing he did have something left in the tank. It was an incredible performance. He had his granite chin mask on and took Maidana?s best shots. The same shots that wobbled Amir Khan?s knees and wilted Ortiz?s heart. Morales fought with sharp counter punches and upper cuts. He threw double jabs followed by right crosses that pushed Maidana backwards. It was a sensational performance that was reminiscent of his first fight against Pacquiao.
Even if Morales doesn?t have the same shocking performance in future fights, it?ll be tough to doubt his grit, courage and determination again.
Morales? performance was one for the ages and has spawned a series of ?What ifs?? The most intriguing is ?What if Marquez was in front of Morales that night??
Barrera, the former three time world champion who has fought both Marquez and Morales, has gone on record saying Morales in his prime would beat Marquez. Many would agree, but we?re talking about a Morales close to his prime rather than in it against Marquez, whose prime fighting years extends to his current age of 37 years old. A Morales close to his prime couldn?t even beat Maidana, what makes you think he?d beat Marquez, who seems to be getting better with age.
Unlike Maidana, Marquez would be relentless in the mid to late rounds. Maidana was clearly fatigued in rounds 8 to ten, which allowed Morales to make things highly interesting. Marquez, on the other hand, would have the stamina and strength to sustain a consistent attack during those rounds. His last three knock out wins were either in the 9th or 11th rounds. He probably would?ve knocked Morales out somewhere from round 9 to twelve.
A bold prediction given that Maidana?s power didn?t seem to faze Morales. So how would Marquez, not exactly possessing one punch knock out power like Maidana, knock out Morales? The difference would be Marquez?s ability to string together punches and put Morales in a situation where he wouldn?t be able to recover. The ref would have to step in and stop the fight.
With that said, no matter what the outcome would?ve been, Morales and Marquez would?ve given us quite a show.
Then again saying Marquez would beat Morales would also mean doubting ?El Terrible? again. A mistake we may come to regret just like the one after the Maidana fight.
