This Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Erik Morales takes on the dangerous Zahir Raheem in what is supposed to be a “tune-up” towards a rematch with Manny Pacquiao (who appears on the same card against Hector Velasquez).
Raheem, the slick Philadelphian, is exactly the kind of guy that most fighters and managers avoid at all costs. Morales takes him as an interim fight in-between pay-per-view bouts, consequences and risks be damned.
But that’s par for the course for the 29-year-old native of Tijuana, Mexico. While supposed pound-for-pound kings of the past like Roy Jones have more cupcakes on their ledger than Hostess and others like Floyd Mayweather bark out loud about their superiority after downing opponents they label as ‘C+’ all Morales does is take one tough assignment after another.
If Morales was a college football team (lets say the ‘El Terrible’s of T.J. Tech) he would rate higher than anyone in the strength of schedule department. From his three epic battles with Marco Antonio Barrera to his title-winning war against Danny Zaragoza way back in 1997 to his struggle versus South Korean In-Jin Chi and his thorough victories over world-class performers like Paulie Ayala, Jesus Chavez and Carlos Hernandez and then his slugfest against Pacquiao this past March – no one brings it on a consistent basis like this guy.
“Oh, absolutely,” agreed Todd duBoef, V.P. of Top Rank Boxing, which has promoted Morales throughout his career. “I mean he has always wanted to fight at the highest level. He’s been disappointed in a couple of fights and in a couple of decisions that didn’t go his way, but whatever you can say about Erik Morales, the one thing you have to say is that he’s probably the most exciting fighter out there, who every time he’s in a fight gives it his all and he’ll always steal the show.”
With his crowd pleasing style and warrior’s persona, along with the patience and the long-range marketing of Top Rank, he has turned into a bona-fide ticket seller and pay-per-view franchise.
Not bad for a Mexican featherweight who doesn’t speak much English.
“It’s his personality and his loyalty that takes over for everything,” said duBoef. “I mean, when we sit down with Erik it’s a partnership. He knows that we’re looking out for the best interest in him and he knows he’s going to deliver the best every night. So there’s a great deal of respect and mutual admiration between the two of us.”
But to get to the anticipated rematch with ‘the Pac Man’, he’ll have to beat Raheem, a respected boxer who has a mark of 26-1 and considered a dark horse to upset Morales. By comparison, Pacquiao faces a fighter in Velasquez who has 10 losses to his credit.
It’s a bout that many in the industry are surprised is actually taking place.
“We thought it was a very dangerous fight, and everybody out there said it was a terrible fight,” said duBoef, with no pun intended. “We felt it was a very difficult fight only because Zahir’s got plenty of Olympic experience, a really good pedigree and he’s got good movement, fast hands, he hasn’t shown any weakness and we think it’s a solid fight.
“I don’t look at this fight as a tune-up fight, I mean Erik wanted a fight in July. He doesn’t know when to stop, he keeps putting his foot on the accelerator and just wants to keep going forward. We felt it was a good decision for him to take a little time off and rest his body because he has been in tough fights.”
Morales swears there will be no looking ahead.
“I have been working hard because I want to give everyone a good show,” he said on his 29th birthday last Thursday afternoon on a national conference call with reporters. “Raheem is a difficult boxer and I will have to be at my best to beat him. This fight will be my first fight at 135 pounds and I want to show people what I can do in this division.”
But in an ironic twist, it’s in fights like this, where Morales has struggled. It’s when the spotlight is the brightest that Morales shines the most.
“Yeah,” agreed duBoef, “I think that’s the case. I think that’s the case with a lot of fighters. A lot of fighters have a difficult time getting up for every fight. And for whatever the circumstances are, they just have that difficult time. I don’t think you’re going to see that with Erik. He gets motivated for making his mark in history.
“I think in this fight particularly he knows he has to go up there and keep the momentum going which he generated over his last performance.”
His fight with Pacquiao was just another chapter in the storied history of Morales. But what he and his arch-rival, Barrera, will forever be defined by is their epic three-fight series. They are the Mexican version of Ali-Frazier. Their animus and distaste for each other is only overshadowed by their encounters inside the ring.
Barrera would take the rubber match last Thanksgiving weekend, but will we get a fourth installment of this all-time great series given the cold war that exists between Top Rank and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions?
“I think it could happen,” said duBoef. “I don’t think it has anything to do with our hostilities towards them or their hostilities towards us. We don’t have any. I think what the issue is, is their acceptability to being able to realize they’re not the bride with Barrera.”
What duBoef is alluding to is that while Barrera might have 2-1 lead in their series, it is Morales who has had the commercial and pay-per-view success outside of their trilogy.
“Erik has shown time and time again he is the superior attraction. Oscar knows what it is and Oscar always commanded the lions share because he was the attraction,” continued duBoef.
The irony is that during his own heyday that Arum promoted De La Hoya to unprecedented heights. It was during this union that these two made it clear to anyone who came to the bargaining table who was the attraction.
“The question is,” said duBoef, “can a fourth fight be made where rationale people sit down and understand the economics of it and rationally accept that?”
And despite his history and hatred towards the native of Mexico City, Morales seems almost indifferent to a fourth go-around with Barrera.
“I have my own path drawn out as far as my career goes and I don’t depend on anyone else,” he said. “If our paths happen to cross and the public really wants to see a fourth fight between us I would be very happy to give it to them.”
If they don’t, rest assured Morales will just keep fighting one tough guy after another. He says that the rematch with ‘the Pac Man’ would be the only fight that would interest him in going back down to the jr. lightweight division.
“Some people feel that Pacquiao was not at his best when I beat him, but I think he was,” Morales said of their back-and-forth affair that he won by unanimous decision. “But if there are some doubts about my victory last spring I will erase them in a second fight. I thought I won clearly the first time and will do so again.”
Morales has already captured major world titles at 122, 126 and 130 pounds. His next goal would be to win a lightweight championship. He said he would have no qualms about facing the winner of the rematch between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo.
“I think the opportunity is there for me to win a fourth title and I’d like to do it. Not many people get the chance to write history and I love to do it,” Morales said.
And unlike others who challenge bigger guys, it’s more than just lip service coming from Morales.
He actually means it.
FIESTA DE LA HOYA?
I hear that ‘Golden Boy’ is kicking around an idea to have a pay-per-view card that will have their fighters taking on a group of Thai fighters in various championship bouts in late October.
