By James Slater: Mexican legend Erik Morales further solidified his place in the list of greats by making boxing history last night in Las Vegas. “El Terrible” became the first Mexican to win world titles at four different weights classes with his brutal 10th-round TKO over a badly busted up Pablo Cesar Cano.
Okay, the vacant WBC 140-pound belt that the 35-year-old picked up was made available to him due to it being unfairly stripped from the unbeaten Timothy Bradley, making Morales’ forth title win a little tarnished, but he and co-challenger Cano sure put on a spirited fight.
Slow as anything in the early going of a fight these days, as he was last night also, Morales needs time to get warmed up and into his groove. This gave the 21-year-old known as “El Domoledor” some opportunities early on and Morales had to eat some leather and fight through a cut above his left eye that could have worsened if not for his cut-man’s great skill. Cano, on the other hand, was a bloody mess by the 8th, his face pouring blood and both of his eyes badly swollen.
Unable to see Morales’ right hands coming, Cano was being battered around the ring. Showing immense courage, Cano refused to quit. The fight should have been stopped sooner than it finally was, however, and the jury is out on how much the beating he took will affect Cano in the long term. Did we see a young, promising fighter’s career ruined by a needlessly prolonged hammering last night in Vegas?
Hopefully, Cano will be able to come back from the loss. Having earned a reputation as a gutsy and capable fighter the hard way, the 22-1-1(17) contender will have picked up new fans due to his never say die approach.
It is Morales who the fans genuinely love though, and we now wonder what else this legend has to offer. There is talk of Morales, 52-7(46) having one last fight and then quitting with a 60-fight record, but it remains to be seen who he would fight. As slow as he looked last night, in the early going especially, I think Morales should forget all about facing a speedster such as Amir Khan. Should Morales retire now, whilst on the kind of high that only making history can give a person? It’s Erik’s call. He’s earned the right to finish his amazing career how he sees fit.
How much can the living legend who has now ruled the world at 122, 126, 130 and 140-pounds possibly have left though?
In other action on the card:
Adonis Stevenson TKO 1 Dion Savage
Marco Antonio Periban UD 8 Dhafir Smith
Anthony Crolla SD 8 Juan Montiel
Carson Jones RTD 7 Said Ouali
Jessie Vargas SD 10 Josesito Lopez
Erik Morales TKO 10 Pablo Cesar Cano