With a handful of Aztec warriors chasing four titles in as many divisions in a quest to be the first Mexican born boxer to earn the honor, one that has more than a fighting chance is Erik “Terrible” Morales. After failing to capture the WBC lightweight title against David Diaz back in ’07, Morales took a two-and-a-half year hiatus only to announce his comeback earlier this year. Morales defeated former lightweight champion Jose Alfaro via a twelve round unanimous decision to capture the WBC International welterweight title and then proceeded to earn the WBC Silver light welterweight title last August by stopping WIllie Limond of Scotland in six rounds. Now, the thirty-four year old Morales (50-6, 35 KOs) of Tijuana, MX’s famed Zona Norte takes on his toughest test to date on his return when he takes on former WBO super featherweight champion Jorge Rodrigo “Hyena” Barrios (50-4-1, 35 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Morales will defend his WBC Silver strap in the scheduled twelve round affair held in his hometown of Tijuana at the Caliente Stadium in the heart of the city on Saturday, December 18th.
The championship fight marks the first time that “Terrible” returns to his hometown since his first round knockout of Rodney Jones at the Municipal Auditorium in 2000. Since making his way back to the ring, the former super bantamweight, featherweight and super featherweight champion has set up camp in the mountains of central Mexico, but this time, he plans to finish up his last week in his Tijuana gym under the watchful eye of his father and trainer, Jose “Olivaritos” Morales.
“I am going with everything, I want to make my fans happy,” Morales stated last week when he landed in Tijuana. “I want to give a great fight and for it to end in a convincing victory.”
As for Barrios, the bout will mark his second outing of the year, with the first being a unanimous decision win over Wilson Alcorro in his native Argentina two months ago. Barrios has not fought in the northern hemisphere since his ’08 loss at the fists of Rocky Juarez in Houston, TX.
In the semi main event, Manuel “Manny” Jimerez (16-1, 8 KOs) of Mexicali, MX, will defend his WBF minimumweight title against Colombia’s Luis Carillo (10-1-2, 9 KOs) over twelve rounds while in a battle of un-beatens for the vacant WBC Silver light flyweight title, Pedro “Jibran” Guevara (17-0, 13 KOs) takes on Gabriel Mendoza (10-0-2, 9 KOs) of Tierralta, Colombia in twelve rounds.
In another title bout, Felipe “Silencio” Salguero (14-2-1, 11 KOs) will defend his interim WBC Youth light flyweight title against Rigoberto Casillas (12-3, 1 KOs) of Tijuana, MX, for twelve rounds or less.
Five more fights are listed in the bout sheet.
