Erik “El Terrible” Morales has reigned supreme as a prizefighter but now he also wants to make his mark managing boxers. Fightnews caught up with “El Terrible” to get his feedback on his prizefighter and Mexican national flyweight champ Luis “Titi” Maldonado, who squeaked by with a controversial decision win over Tomas Rojas, this past weekend at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. Erik also talked to us about his rematch Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and his hunger for a rematch with his conqueror Zahir Raheem.
What are your thoughts about the decision win for your fighter? Well, it was a very tough fight for him and very complicated for both of them but I think Maldonado looked very good and he did enough to win. He did deliver the better punches, even though there was a round where Rojas seemed to have had Maldonado in trouble and looked like he might drop Maldonado, but it was a good fight for the public. The cut he received was not as bad (Maldonado was cut on his right eyebrow) as it might have looked and it didn’t decide who won the fight.
I asked your father (he is the trainer for Maldonado) if he would take another fight like this one, against an unknown opponent (they did not know who they were fighting until one week before the fight) and a southpaw at that, and he said “Never again.” No, never again. These things should never happen. Maldonado is ranked number one in the world in the commission and the federation. He is going to fight in an elimination bout for the championship. I believe this shouldn’t happen and hopefully it will never happen again. (a potential upset)
This promotion is known as “Julio Cesar Chavez Presents” alongside with you. Do you think this is why your father and the fighter decided not to postpone the fight when they found out about an opponent they were fighting and didn’t prepare for, that is he didn’t prepare to fight against a southpaw and very difficult one at that? (Rojas is as crafty as they come as far as boxing style, similar to a Derik “Smoke” Gainer) Well, you are right, he didn’t prepare to fight against a southpaw, but nevertheless, it was the first time Maldonado was fighting in the United States and it was an opportunity for him. At first we were going (when choosing an opponent) to take on an opponent that was more.. more calm, more adequate for a good presentation, but sometimes you get opponents that will present a difficult fight. I think that Tomas Rojas was a good test and a learning experience for him (Maldonado) and I believe that with the proper time, proper training and study of the opponent I think that he can face them in the ring and win.
I agree. Now, let’s talk about El Terrible. You are going to face Manny Pacquiao in a rematch of sorts and I say that because he is the one that wants the rematch not you, being that you soundly defeated him, but last time we saw you in the ring it was against Zahir Raheem, a very difficult style of fighter. In that fight, Zahir stayed with his game plan, which was not to trade with you, and thus it made for a more unimpressive fight than those we are accustumed to seeing you in, but yet he got the decision win on points. You have always put on great shows and have given fans what they want to see, which is to see a warrior like yourself go all out every round of the fight. Unfortunately Zahir had different plans and outboxed you. Why fight those type of opponents and style of fighters? Well, unfortunately there aren’t many of the opponents that I wish I could face (toe to toe warriors) but you have to adapt to what there is available. Raheem was a fighter who only had one loss. He was a difficult fighter and a fighter of high caliber for the people. He was very complicated but we knew about him and we accepted him as an opponent. We fought and unfortunately that’s the way it goes sometimes, but we will train hard we are going to prepare well and hopefully this upcoming fight we will give a great show once again for the people.
Styles make fights, and your style of fighting is what the boxing fans love to watch. Your style of fighting versus PacMan gives him trouble because of your aggressiveness and the strength advantage you have. He tried fighting toe to toe with you and it didn’t work for him.Will you fight the same way this time around? We will see what he does. Let’s see what experience he gained from our previous fight, let’s see if he modifies his game plan, let’s see if he tries to box this time knowing that it might complicate things for me. Let’s see what he tries to do. That is what I will work on, but I assure you that he likes to exchange power punches. I know that I am faster than him and stronger, too. I know I have the advantage there and I hope it will show in the fight.
You beat him the first time, easily. Why fight him again? What do you gain out of it? Well, the people (fans) are the ones who decide who I fight. They are the ones that want to see us fight again. We are here to serve the people.
What bout Zahir Raheem? He beat you, wouldn’t you want to avenge that defeat first? Unfortunately that is the way (scheduled) the fights are. First we will fight Pacquiao and then we will go after Zahir Raheem. This is the year of the rematches.
