Boxing - The Sweet Science

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Morales denied in Vegas

June 23, 2002
SecondsOut.com
By Mark G. Butcher in Las Vegas

Erik Morales was denied a magnificent victory at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night when the judges awarded arch-rival Marco Antonio Barrera a unanimous decision. Call it atonement for the disputed verdict in their first fight if you like, but the decision was still the wrong one.

Morales had a genuine knockdown inexplicably ignored by referee Jay Nady, no stranger to controversy, in the seventh round. He boxed with style and verve and employed the greater technique, but in the end to no avail.

The scores suggested a different fight. Chuck Giampa’s 116-112 scorecard was mystifying while the other scores 115-113 (twice) were also off-base. Morales right eye was swollen badly at the end of 12 totally absorbing rounds while Barrera was unmarked, but that didn’t tell the story of the fight.

At the post-fight press conference, Morales’ promoter Bob Arum pointed to the knockdown in the seventh round, which would have handed the fight to Morales, and expressed his disappointment at the decision. Arum wasn’t keen on a third fight after the judging, but said the defeat wouldn’t affect Morales’ future.

“I think Morales-Ayala is still the best fight out there,” said Arum. “As far as I’m concerned, Morales won the fight. I had it 7-5 for Morales. I couldn’t see how you cannot give him seven rounds. How can any experienced judge give Barrera the first three rounds? How can that happen?”

Barrera was a mixture of happiness and relief at the conference and most observers seemed to think he had been fortunate to win, especially by such margins.

“I’d like to say Erik Morales is a good fighter,” said Barrera, who claimed he was not legitimately knocked down. “For all those people who want a third fight with Erik Morales, I am ready.”

Afterwards, Morales was subdued, but unbowed by the loss. He felt he had clearly done enough to win.

“I fought an intelligent fight, but I’m not feeling that intelligent about what happened,” said Morales. “I put him under a lot of pressure during the fight, scored a lot of good punches to the body. I think he was hurt. I think when I dropped him it was a legitimate knockdown. I think all the people who follow me and believe in me can be proud because I think Erik Morales won tonight.”

It was a shame for Morales who was written off by almost everyone before this fight, but it had been another bout to remember.

A deafening roar greeted the announcement of both fighters on a fantastic night for Mexico and boxing. The electric tension in the MGM Grand Arena rose during the first round with first Barrera then Morales applying the pressure. A Barrera left hook brought a roar but Morales was looking lean and dangerous, and every time Barrera became complacent he punished him.

Morales dabbed his right eye in the second and both men had their successes, but Erik was looking more like the fighter of old and Barrera was unable to get into gear. Morales raised the tempo in the third and suddenly Barrera didn’t look quite so confident anymore as Morales scored with crisp rights. Morales won these first three rounds clearly, but somehow judge Chuck Giampa gave them all to Barrera.

The unthinkable was happening; Morales was controlling the center of the ring and pushing Barrera backward in the fourth. There was no variety to Barrera who couldn’t match the technique of his Tijuana rival. Three successive rights hurt Barrera in the fifth, but Morales turned his back and Barrera rushed him prompting a furious trade by the ropes as the crowd screamed.

Morales complained that Barrera was hitting him low in the sixth and crowd booed. Barrera was having better luck this round, but still he found Morales able to more than match him on the inside. Barrera was pressuring now and a right hand sent Morales head flying back theatrically, but the plot changed swiftly in the seventh. A right to the body sent Barrera down, but unbelievably it was ruled no knockdown by Jay Nady and this bad call changed the decision in Barrera’s favor.

Morales was pushed down and punched to the canvas by Barrera, who was admonished by referee Nady in the eighth. Barrera drilled Morales to the ropes, but Morales blazed back with gusto.

Erik’s right eye was worsening and Barrera looked stronger in the ninth and he began pushing Morales back with regularity. Still Erik produced right hand cameos, but the ascendancy was with Barrera now.

Morales had a great 10th, peppering Barrera with jabs and switching from head to body with effortless motion. He seemed a different fighter from the man who had laboured against Guty Esapadas and In Jin Chi.

Morales boxed more in the 11th round and made Barrera miss on numerous occasions, but it was Barrera who was forcing the exchanges. Barrera started the 12th very strongly, rocking Morales only to be badly shaken himself moments later. Yet Morales’ right eye was shut and impeding his vision and Barrera won the session with a furious onslaught in the final minute.

It didn’t seem as if it would be enough, but it was.

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