Former four-time WBC and WBO super bantamweight champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales will end his retirement and return to the ring to fight past lightweight titleholder Jose Alfaro in a welterweight bout March 27 in Monterrey, Mexico.
Morales (48-6, 34 KOs), a Mexican icon who ESPN ranked #49 on their 50 Greatest Boxers of All Time list, has not boxed professionally since he fought David “Dangerous” Diaz (35-2-1, 17 KOs) for the WBC lightweight crown and lost by a close unanimous decision in August 2007 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
“That’s it,” said Morales, 33, after he was defeated by Diaz. “No more fighting. I am done. Too many punches, particularly to the head area.”
Morales, who trumped an astounding fifteen different world champions since his professional debut in March 1993, is a skilled brawler and he is truly beloved by his fellow countrymen.
“El Terrible’s” exciting style in the ring has always made him a popular attraction.
“Morales was an exciting warrior and the last guy to beat Manny Pacquiao in 2005,” said Roger “Pitt” Perron, 73, a longtime boxing trainer from Brockton who now works with Mike and Rich Cappiello at their gym, Cappiello Brothers Boxing and Training.
“I always loved to watch him fight.”
However, it was Morales’ trilogies with three-division champion Marco Antonio Barrera (65-7, 43 KOs) and Ring Magazine’s current number one pound-for-pound fighter Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) that elevated him to a legendary status.
Despite his valiant and admirable efforts, Morales ultimately lost both of his epic trilogies to Pacquiao and Barrera.
Morales’ wars with Pacquiao and Barrera drained him physically and, including the two knockout losses he suffered at the hands of “Pac-Man,” he presently has been defeated in five of his last six matchups.
Alfaro (20-3-0-1, 18 KOs) is a native Nicaraguan who possesses slightly above average skills as a boxer.
Nevertheless, in his heyday, Morales would have battered and bludgeoned Alfaro, 26, within eight rounds.
Unfortunately, Morales, a genuinely good-natured man, is currently nowhere close to his prime and he is an old 33 years of age.
A nearly three-year layoff could potentially benefit Morales and revitalize his abilities.
Still, such a scenario is extremely unlikely in a sport like boxing.
Morales will breakdown in the later rounds and Alfaro will emerge victorious in two months time.
After Morales lost to Diaz, “El Terrible’s” father, Jose, was quoted as saying, “Erik has taken too many punches. It has to stop.”
Morales, a once great champion, simply “has to stop” boxing.
*Cappiello Brothers Boxing gym is located on 162 Main Street in Brockton, Massachusetts (02301).
508-583-4303
*Listen to Roger “Pit” Perron on the Marciano-Tartaglia Show Friday nights from 5-7 PM on 1460 AM (WXBR)
To call into the show, dial 508-586-1460 anytime between the aforementioned hours.
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