Erik Morales on Saturday will have a chance to do something no other Mexican national has ever done – win a championship in a fourth weight classes.
Morales has won titles in the super bantamweight, featherweight and super featherweight divisions. He will challenge David Diaz (32-1-1, 17 KOs) for his lightweight belt at Allstate Arena near Chicago. (HBO will televise for $44.95).
Now, that certainly doesn’t mean that if Morales accomplishes this feat, he will go down as the greatest ever from Mexico. But this situation does beg the question: Where does Morales sit among the all-time best from his country?
Some experts would say that there are six Mexicans to consider in this equation: Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Ricardo Lopez, Ruben Olivares, Salvador Sanchez and Julio Cesar Chavez.
This, of course, can’t be decided on records and titles alone. But for the sake of argument, Olivares was 88-13-3 with 77 knockouts during a career that lasted nearly 21 years. He won titles in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions.
Lopez retired undefeated at 51-0-1 with 38 knockouts. He held the minimumweight title for eight years, then moved up and won the light flyweight championship, going 3-0 in that division. It would seem that Lopez, without exploring any further, should get the nod as the most prolific ever from Mexico. But 49 of his 52 fights were in the 105-pound division, where terrific competition was scarce.
Chavez was 107-6-2 with 86 knockouts, winning championships in three weight classes. His stalking style, complete with that devastating left hook, was a thing of beauty for those of us who like toe-to-toe warriors.
Barrera, like Morales, is still active. He owns a 2-1 record in three sensational fights with Morales, and has a record of 63-5 with 42 knockouts. He, too, has won titles in three divisions.
Lastly, we have Sanchez. He was 44-1-1 with 32 knockouts during a splendid career that lasted only seven years because he was killed in an automobile accident at the tender age of 23. This, after he had registered knockouts of Danny “Little Red” Lopez (twice), Wilfredo Gomez and Azumah Nelson. Sanchez won all 10 of his featherweight championship fights, five by knockout. He died on Aug. 12, 1982, three weeks and a day after he stopped Nelson in the 15th round at Madison Square Garden on July 21.
Morales, 48-5 with 34 knockouts, was asked his thoughts on the subject Tuesday during a conference call. As expected, the humble fighter from Tijuana wouldn’t say where he ranks among his aforementioned countrymen. Instead, he threw out a few more names undeserving of equal billing.
“I really can’t tell you where I fit into that category because I have different likes myself,” Morales said. “Like Rafael Herrera, Vicente Saldivar and Lupe Pintor. I like how those guys fight. So to try to put myself in a class is … I really can’t do that.”
Herrera, Saldivar and Pintor were fine fighters. But make no mistake, they do not belong in the class of six that have been put together for this particular puzzle. Perhaps a more realistic answer was provided by Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank Inc., Morales’ longtime promoter.
“Well, I think of the guys you mentioned, you really only go back to Salvador Sanchez,” said duBoef, stepson of Bob Arum, chairman of the board of Top Rank. “I don’t think Salvador Sanchez’s greatness was ever really seen because his life was cut short. There ‘s two things about Erik. He’s a great, great fighter, but of that list I would say him and Chavez were 1 and 1A as it was to an attraction.
“Erik Morales, as a fighter in the ring, has been probably, him and Chavez, the two biggest attractions in the history of the sport from Mexico. And there is something (to be) said for that. And I think that speaks a lot of volumes (about) his style, personality and his greatness in the ring.”
When you think about these six very special boxers, there really isn’t a discernible difference between any of them. One thing is certain, when Morales and Barrera retire soon, we are going to miss them as much as we miss the other four. Fighting machines with incredible mettle, all of them.
Morales, who will be 31 a month from today, was also asked Tuesday just what it would mean to become the first Mexican to win titles in four divisions.
“It is very important,” he said. “In Mexico there have been a lot of great world champions. For me to be the one to get that fourth world title would be very impressive.”
Morales went on to say that he doesn’t plan on losing, that he’ll be stronger because he is now fighting at 135. Having to make 130 for his two most recent fights – against Manny Pacquiao — was partly responsible for him losing both bouts. Morales, however, was reminded that the first fight of his current three-fight losing streak came against Zahir Raheem at 135. Yet, Morales did not seem to benefit in any way, shape or form from not having to make 130 in that fight because he fought lethargically in losing a decision.
Morales was able to rationalize that by saying he had several distractions for that particular camp, and that this 135-pound camp has been perfectly focused on the task at hand. Thus, he said, we will see the Morales we have come to appreciate, and the end of his downward spiral.
That said, there are those out in the boxing world who believe that Morales should have called it quits after being knocked out by Pacquiao in the third round last November. Heck, a loss to Diaz would give Morales a four-fight losing streak, something he could very well take into retirement.
Would that sour what he’s done in the minds of experts? Or in the mind of Morales?
“I think you really can’t erase what I’ve done in the ring,” Morales said. “If it happens that I happen to lose, I’m conscious of the fact that I can’t fight anymore. And I know the people feel the same way.”
Regardless of what transpires Saturday, Morales said he feels privileged to have had this kind of career.
“As a fighter, you always think about world titles, maybe just fighting for one, let alone winning one,” Morales said. “And I’ve had the opportunity to win in three different weight classes, facing the best in those weight classes. I feel very happy to be able to go after a fourth world title. I have accomplished more than I ever dreamed of.”