I couldn?t help but be a little intrigued by the planned December 18th bout between former champions Erik ?El Terrible? Morales and wild swinging Jorge Barrios. Morales? career was left for dead after his decision loss to David Diaz over three years ago but his comeback campaign this year has been fairly impressive as he has found a way to defeat former lightweight titlist Jose Alfaro and most recently stopped Glasgow’s Willie Limond in six rounds.
At 34 years of age, Morales and Barrios aren?t exactly spring chickens anymore but they would have likely given us a fight filled with plenty of two-way action if anything else. Adding to the plot was the fact that Morales is being looked at as a possible opponent for Juan Manuel Marquez sometime next year. Marquez showed last month that he still has plenty of fight left in him with his 9th round stoppage over Michael Katsidis in Las Vegas and a bout with him and Morales was one that was always kicked around by fans and insiders when the two were closer to their primes.
Things have definitely taken a turn, however, as Barrios looks to be out as Morales? opponent this Saturday night. As reported by our friends at BoxingScene.com, it looks as though Barrios was denied permission to travel from Argentina to Mexico for the bout due to a pending criminal trial in his homeland. Barrios is awaiting trial for aggravated homicide in relation to an automobile accident that took place earlier this year in Buenos Aires.
A 20-year old pregnant woman lost her life after Barrios reportedly sped through a red light and crashed his automobile into several other vehicles. The man nicknamed ‘La Hiena’ reportedly fled the scene but was brought to a police station hours later at the request of his lawyer.
Slideshow: A picture by picture look at Morales’ memorable moments
Upon hearing the news of Barrios? misfortunes, promoters in Mexico immediately began looking for a replacement and it looks like well-traveled Francisco Lorenzo will get the call. The Dominican possesses a very awkward style and has been in with a slew of former champions and contenders including Nate Campell, Humberto Soto, Juan Diaz and Roman Martinez.
Lorenzo surprised many in the summer of 2005 when he upset Campbell by split-decision in St. Petersburg, Florida, as he was simply a little busier on this night. Three years later he was awarded a disqualification victory over Soto at the Mandalay Bay in a controversial ending, as referee Joe Cortez claimed he was the victim of a rabbit punch that had him heaped on the canvas. Replays appeared to indicate that Lorenzo may have been looking for a way out of the fight however, as he had been dropped and was taking a beating from his Sinaloa foe. Lorenzo would clearly lose his rematch with Soto four months later in Quinta Roo, Mexico.
Lorenzo?s last notable fight was a ten round decision loss to former WBA junior lightweight champion Jorge Linares this past March. Despite being 39 years old he has still been able to make 130 pounds but will surely be coming in much heavier as a late replacement for Morales, who was said to have been facing off with Barrios at a catch weight of 138.
The likely conclusion to all of this will probably be a Morales victory, as the Tijuana fighter has shown himself to be taking his return to the sport very seriously. A bout next year with Marquez will mean big dollars and a chance to add some more glory to his already illustrious career and I don?t see any way that Lorenzo can ruin those plans.
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
