Erik Morales

If you're a fan of professional boxing, then you've undoubtedly heard of Érik Morales. In a career spanning over 19 years, Morales cemented himself as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Throughout this article, we will take a look at Morales' career, highlights, and losses. We will also examine his seven world title wins, including the memorable fights where he defeated two boxing greats in their own right: Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera.

Career Summary

Érik Morales began his professional boxing career in 1993, at the incredibly young age of just 16 years old. He made his debut against José Orejel, defeating him via second-round knockout. From there, Morales went on a whopping 40-fight win streak. During this time, he won 30 fights via stoppage.

In 1997, after 26 professional fights, Morales had his first world title bout. His opponent was none other than Daniel Zaragoza, and the title in question was the WBC super-bantamweight world championship. Morales triumphed over Zaragoza via 11th round knockout, effectively becoming the new WBC super-bantamweight world champion.

The talented boxer went on to become a two-time unified world champion in both super-bantamweight and super-featherweight, as well as win seven world titles across four weight classes.

Over the course of his career, Morales participated in a total of 61 fights. Of those fights, he won 52, lost 9, and had no draws or no-contests. He recorded an incredible 36 knockout wins throughout his career and defended his titles 13 times. During these title defenses, Morales managed to gain 11 knockout wins. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows for Morales. He suffered three losses via knockout and six losses by decision.

Despite these losses, Morales' career is nothing short of legendary. He made his mark on the boxing world and was ultimately inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2018.

Career Highlights

When discussing Érik Morales' career highlights, it's hard to know where to begin. Throughout his professional career, he put on some incredible performances and faced some of the toughest opponents in the world. However, the following six fights are undoubtedly the most memorable moments of Morales' career:

September 6, 1997

For Morales, this fight was a turning point in his career. He fought against Daniel Zaragoza for the super-bantamweight WBC title and came out on top with an 11th round knockout victory. With this win, Morales became the super-bantamweight champion of the world.

September 12, 1998

In 1998, Morales faced off against Junior Jones to defend his WBC super-bantamweight title. He won this fight via 4th round knockout, proving his value as a title defender.

February 19, 2000

A year and a half later, Morales found himself up against Marco Antonio Barrera for the unified super-bantamweight world championship. Morales managed to triumph over Barrera via 12 round split-decision and became the new WBC and WBO super-bantamweight world-champion.

February 28, 2004

This fight saw Morales take on Jesús Chávez for the WBC super-featherweight title. It was a grueling battle, with Morales ultimately emerging victorious via 12 round unanimous decision.

July 31, 2004

In this fight, Morales faced off against Carlos Hernández for the WBC and IBF super-featherweight world championship. Once again, Morales won the fight, this time via 12 round unanimous decision.

March 19, 2005

Last but certainly not least, Morales fought Manny Pacquiao in one of the most exciting fights in boxing history. The two went back and forth for 12 rounds, with Morales ultimately winning via unanimous decision. This fight cemented Morales' status as one of the greatest fighters of all time.

Losses

Unfortunately, as with any boxing career, Morales' career includes losses. He suffered nine losses throughout his professional boxing career, of which four were in title bouts and five were in non-title bouts. His first loss came against Marco Antonio Barrera via unanimous decision, ending Morales' 41-fight win streak.

Throughout his career, Morales' toughness was undeniable, even in defeat. He has been stopped three times and lost six times by decision. Despite this, he remained one of the most popular fighters in the sport and continued to put on incredible performances in his later years.

The Legacy of Érik Morales

Érik Morales' career speaks for itself, with a record of 52-9 and seven world titles to his name. He was a dynamic fighter who put on some of the most memorable performances in boxing history.

For many, his most iconic accomplishment was his series of fights against Marco Antonio Barrera, a fellow Mexican boxer with whom he shared a fierce rivalry. These two titans of the sport battled it out in three unforgettable bouts, each ending in one of the fighters' victories.

Overall, Morales' legacy lives on through those he inspired and those who continue to look up to him as one of the greatest boxers of his generation. His place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame cements his status as a true master of the sport, and his storied career will be remembered by boxing fans worldwide for generations to come.

Érik Morales Fight Record