Written By: Robert Ramos
April 16, 2011
As I watched the Erik Morales versus Marcos Maidana fight last night during a replay from last Saturdays April 9th live event for their WBA interim World light welterweight title battle, I was amazed at the intensity level that 34 year old Morales fought with, even though his right eye was completely closed shut from the punishing left hooks that he took from Maidana early in the fight. Even with his impairment, Morales at different times throughout the fight dominated the 27-year-old Maidana with strong stiff jabs and powerful combinations, he almost dropped Maidana in the 8th round, when Morales landed a vicious left hook that buckled Maidana’s young legs, but Maidana was able to survive the round.
Morales also demonstrated his experience and speed that reminded us of a much younger Morales seen during his past famous battles against Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera. However, it was the never-ending, come forward onslaught by the younger, stronger and wild punching Maidana that convinced the judges to give Maidana the victory by majority decision.
Many fans in the audience and I believed that Morales won the fight because he landed the straighter and more effective punch combinations. Erik Morales deserves much credit for having proved that when he trains hard enough, even at his age, he can still be a very tough opponent in world-class matches.
If I had my wish, a perfect ending to finalize and complete Erik Morales’ boxing legacy, would have been to give Morales the well deserved technical victory for the Maidana fight, because he displayed the heart of a lion and a champion, then for Morales to finally and appropriately retire as the interim champion and place this victory in the history books and place the final diamond atop a crown that signifies Morales’ long and illustrious boxing career. Unfortunately, I have seen the same scenario over and over, where former great boxing champions feel the have one more fight left in them and think they can win another title belt, but only to continue down the path to a gloomy obscurity.
As once described by a former pro boxer that I knew, who won a U.S. national belt, “There is no greater feeling than training 3 months for a fight, and when fight night arrives, the splendor, hype, the attention of the media, fight fans and then the final walk into the ring, there is no feeling like it in the world! All eyes are on you and you are ready to fight and destroy the other fighter by sheer physical and mental will.”
I believe that many former world champions have experienced that same exact feeling and I believe that is what keeps boxers motivated other than the money; it’s a shame when the mind say’s yes and the body can no longer react to commands of the mind. A half second too slow, or the inability to move quickly away from a devastating punch is a punishment dished out by father time, not only to boxers, but also affects humanity in general, it’s inevitable.
Am I criticizing boxers for staying in the fight game too long? Yes, but it’s not because I’m hating on them, it’s because I have more love for the fighter, than I do for the fight. One might say it’s easy to be a critic, but there is nothing sadder than watching a future hall of famer slowly fade away, or get beaten into retirement, for not knowing when its time to leave the sport to the young, upcoming boxers and allow them to finally have their moment of fame under the bright lights.
I find extreme displeasure in seeing boxing greats absorb unnecessary punishment, especially after they have already provided fight fans with decades worth of glorious and hard fought battles, but are now only shells of their former selves. The possibility of permanent eye, or brain damage just doesn’t seem worth it.
We know it’s not about the money and it’s all about the glory. We also know that you have an undying love for the boxing game, that’s why you rose to the top. No disrespect, but there is nothing left to prove to us, its time to hang ‘em up Champ.
No comments:
Post a Comment