CHICAGO—There’s a relief sculpture near the top of a staircase at 500 N. LaSalle Street of two kids playing basketball. One defends while the other jumps and shoots. This used to be Michael Jordan’s Restaurant, owned by the former Chicago Bulls basketball superstar. Now a popular Mexican restaurant called Lalo’s, it hosted yesterday’s press conference for the upcoming David Diaz-Erik Morales world title fight on August 4th.
Diaz, the likable 1996 Olympian hailing from Chicago, will defend his World Boxing Council Lightweight Title, while the legendary Morales will be shooting for his fourth division world championship belt.
However it turns out, their fight promises to be a slam-dunk at the box office.
Dubbed the “War For Four,” this HBO Pay Per View championship night will also feature Puerto Rico’s Juan Manuel Lopez (17-0, 15 KO’s)—a boxer promoter Bob Arum said is “the next star after (WBA Welterweight Champion Miguel) Cotto.” He will face dangerous Ricardo Castillo (32-4, 22 KO’s), the younger brother of former WBC Lightweight champ Jose Luis Castillo, who’s challenging Ricky Hatton for his Light Welterweight titles later this month.
“War for Four” will be held at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Tickets are available today at any Ticket Master location, according to Dominic Pesoli, whose company, 8 Count Productions, is co-promoting the event with Bob Arum’s Top Rank.
“You’ve got to give (fans) competitive fights,” said Arum. “They want to see action fights, fighters who fight, not business who come in looking like themselves and leave looking the same way. At Top Rank, all we care about are fighters who fight!”
With David Diaz and Erik Morales, they definitely have fighters who will fight.
Acknowledging the heavy Latin presence—a huge market for boxing these days—Morales’ manager, Fernando Beltran said, “There’s a lot of Mexican “Nachos” (in Chicago) and I know we’re going to win the “War for Four.”
Bob Arum introduced Diaz, saying, “He always throws punches and never gives up. He is a warrior, he is a fighter and a credit to boxing.”
Following a personal message to Morales in Spanish thanking him for the opportunity to fight such a legend, Diaz said, “I’m not here to give up my belt. It’s my belt. I respect Erik. He’s done a lot for boxing. It’s going to be a war, but it’s not going to be a ‘War for four!’”
There are concerns that Morales is washed up, having left everything in his wars with Manny Pacquiao. Arum indirectly addressed those sentiments when he introduced Morales, saying, “He told us that he is ready to give everything he has to win that title.”
Taking the podium, Morales said via translation, “David’s got nothing to thank me for. I’m happy to fight for my fourth world title in the house of the Champion. Thanks Bob Arum and also David. This world title (match will be)…a fight to remember. You will see an Erik Morales…make an (outstanding) effort.”
A resident of Tijuana, B.C., Mexico Morales, age 30, sports a record of 48-5 and 34 knockouts that includes all-time great wars with Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao, along with the International Boxing Federation Super Featherweight Title, the WBC Featherweight and Junior Lightweight World Titles.
After the formalities concluded, Diaz said, “I don’t like to predict (outcomes). Every minute of every round, I’m going to be in that fight. I’m leaving everything in the ring.”
Diaz, who will train four weeks here in Chicago and then four weeks in St. Louis with trainer Kevin Cunningham, had this to say to fight fans: “Just come out and buy the tickets. It’s better live in Chicago with the fight fans!”
Renowned for its sports teams, on August 4th, Chicago is going to slam-dunk another sporting event, this time Latin style. Be there.
