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Erik MoralesMexican professional boxer
Date of Birth: 01.09.1976
Country:  Mexico |
Content:
Biography of Erik Morales
Erik Morales was a Mexican professional boxer who became the first Mexican boxer in history to win championship titles in four different weight categories. He was a former WBC and IBF champion in the super bantamweight division, a two-time WBC champion in the featherweight division, and a WBC and WBO champion in the super featherweight division. Morales won a total of 15 different world championship titles throughout his career.
He gained fame for his fights with fellow Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera and eight-division Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao. Morales was also the last boxer to defeat Pacquiao. He is ranked 49th on ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers Of All Time list. Morales stood at a height of 173 cm and had a professional record of 52 wins out of 60 fights.
Early Life and Career
Erik Morales was born on September 1, 1976, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. He began boxing at the age of five under the guidance of his father, Jose Morales, who was also a boxer. Morales had an impressive amateur career, participating in 114 fights, winning 108 and losing only 6. He won 11 major titles in Mexican amateur boxing.
His professional debut came at the age of 16, where he knocked out his opponent in two rounds. From 1993 to 1997, Morales quickly climbed the ranks in the super flyweight division, winning 26 fights, including victories over former champions Kenny Mitchell and Hector Acero Sanchez, before capturing his first world championship title. It was during this time that Morales signed a contract with promoter Bob Arum.
Championship Success
On September 7, 1997, at the age of 21, Morales won his first world championship title by defeating WBC champion Daniel Zaragoza in a knockout victory in the 11th round in El Paso, Texas. Zaragoza, who was 19 years older than Morales, was a more experienced opponent. In his first title defense, Morales defeated John Lowey in the 7th round by knockout. He then went on to defeat Remigio Molina in the 6th round by knockout.
On May 16, 1998, Morales scored a second-round knockout victory over former world champion Jose Luis Bueno. From then on, his career was marked by a string of victories and iconic fights, including bouts with American boxer Junior Jones, Mexican boxer Marco Antonio Barrera, American boxer Kevin Kelley, South Korean boxer Jin Chi, Carlos Hernandez, and others.
Later Career
On August 4, 2007, Morales fought David Diaz for the WBC lightweight championship title but lost by unanimous decision. This was Morales' fifth defeat in his last six fights, and he announced his retirement from boxing during the post-fight press conference. However, two years later, Morales stated during an interview that he would return to the ring after taking a necessary break. His first fight after the hiatus took place in early 2010 against Nicaraguan boxer Jose Alfaro.
As of September 17, 2011, Morales held the WBC super lightweight championship title. Outside of the ring, Morales manages the Parks and Recreation Department in Tijuana and donates his salary back to the department to increase its funding. He is married to Andrea, and they have three children together. Morales' father not only trained him but also served as his manager. His younger brothers, Ivan Morales and Diego Morales, have also chosen professional boxing careers.
