Morales wants 4th bout vs Pacquiao
MANILA, Philippines – Returning Mexican champion Erik Morales, the last fighter who defeated pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, is setting his sights on his erstwhile rival for a possible fourth clash with the 7-division world champion.
“Defeating Pacquaio is my greatest accomplishment in the ring. I would love another chance at Pacquiao,” Morales said in a media event as quoted by Gareth A. Davies of The Telegraph.
“El Terible” Morales, 33, is coming out of retirement after leaving the sport in 2007.
He will make his comeback on March 27 in Monterrey, Mexico where he will face World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Jose “Jicaras” Alfaro of Nicaragua.
“Alfaro is a great young fighter and a former world champion. A wicked puncher who will bring his best. He has a big heart and always gives fans everything he has,” Morales said of his 26-year-old opponent.
The Mexican and Nicaraguan will fight for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) intercontinental welterweight title at the Arena Monterrey in Nuevo Leon.
“At 147, I’m faster than ever and freer with my body so I can get the most out of it,” said Morales, adding that he would also like to slug it out with compatriot Juan Manuel Marquez.
Morales has 48 wins (with 34 knockouts) and 6 losses while Alfaro has 23 wins (with 20 KOs), 5 defeats and 1 no contest.
Career-defining foes
Morales scored a unanimous decision victory over “Pacman” Pacquiao in March 2005 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las, Vegas Nevada.
The Filipino boxing icon fired back at Morales in their next 2 fights. He scored a 10th round technical knockout win in January 2006 and blasted a 3rd round knockout victory in November 2006. Both bouts were held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Morales, meantime, mentioned that Pacquiao and retired American boxer Junior Jones were the opponents who defined his career.
“Defeating Jones was important to me because he had stopped something like 32 Mexicans in previous fights,” he noted.
Pacquiao (51-3-2, with 38 KOs) successfully defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey via unanimous decision at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas last Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
No one has been named as his next opponent, although the clamor for his fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. remains even if negotiations for their bout collapsed due to their disagreement on the drug testing protocol. Trainer Freddie Roach, meantime, said that Venezuelan Edwin Valero could be next for Pacquiao. -- With a report from The Telegraph
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Sugar Ray Robinson is the greatest of all time..
i agree pacquiao is one of the best but the distinction of the greatest boxer of all time goes to sugar ray robinson. even ali who keeps calling himself as the greatest considers robinson as the greatest.
good point adel with the watered down divisions in boxing. to add to that, boxing use to have 15 rounds compared to 12 today. actually there was no round limits technically way back in the days. so fighting back then was way way tougher. although pacquiao will probably do well during those time because he's got a lot of stamina and doesn't tire. and also there were 3 major sanctioning organizations. the wbo as the 4th major organization was only recognized about a decade ago. truth is these sanctioning organizations has become too politicized and corrupt that winning titles now a days is overrated. recognition and acceptance in boxing today is not about winning belts but fighting the best. that's probably why manny didn't fight foreman for an 8th title because foreman is a nobody. clottey although not known outside of boxing is considered a top welterweight.
if pacquiao beats mayweather. would that bolt him at the top of the list? i don't know man. that's very arguable. a lot of people certainly will put pac in front of robinson but until he beats mayweather, its not even a consideration putting pacquiao no. 1. no disrespect to him, i like him and i'm a fan of his but no way he is greater than sugar ray robinson.
on the subject of morales. i agree man, i think pacquiao would kill him. i think he's got some kind of a death wish. maybe he's trying to commit suicide and wants pacquiao do it for him.
The greatest Asian boxer more fitting...
If you've followed those old school fighters I mentioned, you'll know they are greater than Manny. I like Manny. He's one of my favorites. But I say Manny is one of the greatest but not the greatest without bias.
Having the most belts doesn't make a fighter the greatest. You have to consider that modern boxing's divisions are so watered down. There are 16 divisions today and 4 major sanctioning organizations. I repeat 16! Back in the days there was 8. It is easier for fighters now a days to climb up in weight compared to back when there were only 8 divisions. Oscar Dela Hoya had 6 titles in 6 divisions and 10 world championship belts overall. Manny has 7 titles in 7 divisions and 7 overall. In case you forget, the title Manny won when he beat Hatton was the IBO belt which is not a major organization and is not recognized the International Boxing Hall of Fame. If you base who the greatest is based on number of championships, then Oscar Dela Hoya is the greatest. Henry Armstrong held 3 championship in 3 different divisions at the same time. That's more impressive. Again I would reiterate that he did it when there were only 8 divisions in boxing.
No boxing expert and analysts out there would name Pacquiao as the greatest. Maybe ONE of the greatest but NOT the greatest. Although I'm no expert by definition, I know a lot when it comes to boxing and I've followed the sport way before Pacquiao's time.
You see there are Pacquiao fans who are boxing fans and then there are Pacquiao fans who are just Pacquiao fans. I am Filipino but I'm a boxing fan also. Truth is Manny is not the greatest fighter of all time. He is the greatest Asian boxer of all time though. I think everyone, expert or just casual fan will agree with that.
But I understand why you'd call Manny the greatest in your opinion.
On the contrary, Adel, I
On the contrary, Adel, I believe Manny is the greatest because he's the only one who got 7-belts in different divisions. He beat all those great boxers who are much bigger than him. Viva Pacquiao!
One more fight my man..
Sure Manny can retire and sail through the sunset. His place in boxing history is set. Manny is one the greatest fighters of all time but there are fighters that are higher than him on that list (Robinson, Ali, Armstrong, Louis...). If he beats Mayweather, Manny may very will be no. 1 on that list.
Manny is ONE of the greatest, but NOT the greatest. Like I said, if he beats Mayweather and beat him convincingly. He'll be numero uno on my list and I'm sure in many boxing pundits' list also.
Adel, I agree with you.
Adel, I agree with you. Morales should not fight Manny anymore. Why does he want to fight Manny again? Big Money! He knows very well that he got no chance (to win) against Manny, but he makes millions of bucks if he fight Manny.
If I were Manny I hang my gloves now. He is a billionaire. He should retire from boxing undefeated in his fights with the best in the world (Barrera, Morales, Diaz, Delahoya, Marquez, Hatton, Cotto, and Clottey).
What do you think?
Crazy talk..
Morales has lost his mind. Maybe he's on drugs. Mexico does have the best stuff to smoke..
A lot of people have Pacquiao by first round knockout. But I have Paquiao by first or second round death. Manny could kill Morales in the ring literally. I'm afraid for him. I hope he goes back to retirement. Coming back is just a way of ruining his legacy as one of the best Mexican fighters..
Next for Manny is either Mayweather or Mosley. That's it. Anyone else would be.. What's the point?