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'El Terrible' shows heart of a champion in return after layoff
by Jason Collins
MONTERREY, MEXICO - Returning from a two and a half yearlong layoff, former champion Erik Morales gutted out a decision victory over a very game Jose Alfaro. Both fighters were making significant jumps in weight for the welterweight fight, and both fighters entered the bout as former champions.
Alfaro, seven years Morales' junior, gave the Mexican legend all he could handle through twelve rounds. But most impressive was Morales' effort in the final round. After looking a bit tired and losing at least two of rounds nine, ten and eleven, Morales came out for the final round and won it convincingly. However, the scorecards, in what amounted to a hometown fight for Morales, had Morales comfortably ahead before the final round.
TheBoxingFan.com saw the scoring a bit differently. With Alfaro winning rounds nine through eleven, Morales needed the last round to avoid a draw. The old Mexican vet had plenty of firepower saved in his tank for the final three - all of which he did not hesitate to unleash on Nicaragua’s best current fighter.
In round 5 Alfaro suffered a cut over his right eye. Despite Morales' relentless left jab, Alfaro's corner did a solid job keeping the bleeding under control for the remainder of the fight.
Alfaro rallied during the second half of the fight, looking especially strong in round seven and in three of the fight's last four rounds.
Even though Alfaro was the aggressor for much of the fight, Morales scored and kept Alfaro at bay with a strong and effective left jab, which was complemented by some excellent bodywork.
The higher weight class seemed to suit Morales well. Just looking at Morales in his recent fights before the layoff, one got the sense that El Terrible spent too much energy before the fights - fighting the scale instead of preparing for the opponent. On Saturday night for the first time in a long time, Morales did not appear emaciated. And he did not run out of gas early as he did in his last four fights.
Alfaro also appeared to handle fighting at 147 well. Whereas Morales appeared gassed at times during the second half of the fight, Alfaro never seemed to tire. He was just simply out boxed and outfought by a living legend that is clearly not ready to hang up the gloves.
All three judges on hand in Monterey Mexico had Morales winning, 116-112, 116-112, 117 - 111.
TheBoxingFan.com scored it 115-113 for Morales
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