Saturday night Erik “El Terible” Morales will enter a boxing ring attempting to accomplish a first for any fighter which has hailed from the country Mexico.
Morales will be attempting to capture the World Boxing Association’s interim world light welterweight championship against Argentina’s Marcos Maidana, marking the fourth weight division in which he has earned a world title.
Not Julio Cesar Chavez Junior, not Salvador Sanchez, not Morales’ arch-rival Marco Antonio Barrera, not any other Mexican gladiator has been a world champ in four divisions.
“I’m sure I will make history in defeating Maidana,” said Morales.
Confident as the 34 year old battle worn fighter may be, the harh reality is that a victory is unlikely against the gritty and savage Maidana.
Going into Saturday night’s pay per view affair, most sportsbooks have Morales as a four to one underdog to win.
This writer believes that four to one odds are generous and Morales is closer to a 10 to 1 underdog.
After a memorable run which included victories over Manny Pacquiao and Barrera, Morales lost four straight fights and then retiring in 2007.
As usual for boxers, his exodus did not last and the Mexican boxing icon returned to the ring in 2010, fighting three times against less than prime competition.
Now Morales steps up the competition, again, in a division three weigh classes higher than when he was in his prime as a featherweight, against a foe who only knows one gear – forward, and will take punches to land punches.
Adding to the unlikliness of a Morales victory, keep in mind that Morales has a record of 1 win and 6 losses in the biggest fights of his career (against Pacquiao and Barrera).
I can only hope that Morales walks away from Saturday night’s pay per view mismatch in good health and retires once again, for good.
