Erik Morales couldn’t possibly have any more doubters than he does at this exact moment.
On April 9th the proud brawler from Tijuana will step into the ring in an effort to pull off one of the year’s biggest upsets as he squares off with former interim WBA junior welterweight champion Marcos Maidana. While Morales’ pedigree between 122 and 130 pounds is unquestioned, he is a huge underdog in his fight with the bigger, younger, and fierce-punching Argentinean.
A simple look over the past five years of two fighters’ careers shows just how opposite their trajectories have been, with Maidana having broken out and seized a definite form of stardom with his upset over Victor Ortiz and his gutsy defeat to Amir Khan last December while Morales has yet to win a fight on the world class stage dating back to his March 2005 upset over Manny Pacquiao.
But make no mistake about it, Erik Morales is nobody’s fool and he is fully expecting to give Maidana all he can handle next month inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The 34-year old has been training at the Centro Ceremonial Otomi in Toluca Estado, the same location where he trained for his memorable battles against the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera as well as his scraps against Pacquiao.
Morales could be forgiven for being slightly intimidated by Maidana’s crippling power or overbearing strength but the former three-division champion likes his chances in this fight because of the edge in talent for which he feels he still has.
“Everything in the gym has been great,” said Morales of his preparation. “I am preparing for a battle. I am doing everything according to Maidana’s skill level.”
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Morales is about an hour outside of the distractions of Mexico City and able to focus solely on his regimen as the fight draws near. He is roughly 3,000 meters above sea level and is reportedly enjoying his free time outside of training by surfing the internet, reading books and even playing dominoes to keep himself from being overly bored.
Morales’ father Jose is again in his corner as the two men prepare to embark on possibly the most dangerous test of his career. Erik Morales has been through the ringer as a professional, winning some thrilling battles and losing some heartbreakers, and perhaps his two-year break from the sport following his August 2007 loss to David Diaz was just what he needed.
No detractors or doubters can sway his belief, nor can the imposing challenge that lies ahead.
“I am confident in my preparation for this fight. I am looking forward to establishing an unbeatable plan and a great strategy to get the victory I know I can get on April 9th.”
