Erik Morales, in a trilling bout from start to finish lost a 12-round unanimous decision to WBC lightweight champion David Diaz on August 4, 2007 at Allstate Arena in Chicago. Morales, trying to make history moved up to 135lbs to fight Diaz. Having previously held WBC world titles at 122lbs, 126lbs and 130lbs Morales wanted to be the first Mexican boxer to win four world championships in four different weight classes.
After the bout before the decision was read Morales announced his retirement saying This is it. I'm not going to fight anymore. I've taken far too many punches, particularly to the head area. Punches to the head are really beginning to bother me.
| Fight | Location | Date | Boxing Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morales vs TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Erik "El Terrible" Morales
Erik Morales is recognized universally as one of the best fighters in the world. Morales is a former WBC super bantamweight champion, two time WBC featherweight champion and WBC super featherweight champion. He became the second fighter from Mexico to win world titles in three weight classes, Julio Cesar Chavez was the first.
Erik Morales Greatest Fights
Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera would begin one of boxings most brutal rivalries in 2000. In Barrera-Morales I at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Erik Morales beat Marco Antonio Barrera by a 12 round SD. Many boxing fans disagreed. The WBO refused to give Morales the title saying the decision was wrong. The Ring magazine named Barrera-Morales I the 2000 Fight of the Year. On 06/22/02 Barrera-Morales II took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Marco Antonio Barrera beat Erik Morales by a 12 round UD. On 11/27/04 in Barrera-Morales III, Marco Antonio Barrera beat Erik Morales by a 12 round MD ending the triology.
Once again Morales would become involved in another trilogy. This time with Manny Pacquiao. Coming off a loss with Barrera Erik Morales would sign for a match with Pacquiao. On 3/19/05 Pacquiao-Morales I took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas where Morales won over Pacquiao by scores of 115-113. The WBC selected Pacquiao-Morales I as one of the best of the fights of the year.
Ringside Las Vegas: On 01/21/06 in Pacquiao-Morales II in front of a loud sold out crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Pacquiao avenged his loss to Morales with a 10th round TKO. It was the first time in his career that Morales had been stopped. Pacquiao dropped Morales twice in the 10th round causing referee Kenny Bayles to to put an end to the bout. Morales left the ring bloodied with a broken nose, both eyes heavily swollen and a huge welt on his forehead. It was a blistering fight.
Ringside Las Vegas: On 11/18/06 again at the Thomas & Mack, Morales made weight and looked fit but Manny Pacquiao was too fast and too strong for him. Pacquiao and Morales traded punches with abandon but Morales was down in round two and twice in round three. At 2:57 of the 3rd round referee Vic Drakulich counted him out. Morales sitting up with his back against the ropes knew there was no point in getting up. Boxing legend Erik Morales later admitted that for the first time in his career he felt the power of another opponent and was hurt by his punches. Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao was simply too much for one of boxing's the all time greatest Mexican warriors.