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Hall of Fame-bound Erik “El Terrible” Morales returns to the ring March 27 after over two years of inactivity, headlining “The Champion Returns” pay-per-view event, on a mission to become the first Mexican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes.
Integrated Sports Media has teamed with KO Entertainment to bring American fans Morales’ comeback fight against former WBA lightweight champion Jose “Jicaras” Alfaro, as well as the WBA light heavyweight eliminator between former WBA light heavyweight champion Hugo Hernan “Pigu” Garay and WBA #4 rated Chris “Hard Hittin’” Henry, live from Monterrey, Mexico.
Seven-time world champion Morales (48-6, 34 KOs), the last opponent to defeat Manny Pacquiao, takes on Nicaraguan knockout specialist Alfaro (23-5, 20 KOs) in the 12-round main event for the WBC Intercontinental welterweight crown.
Morales first captured the WBC super bantamweight title in 1997 and held it through 2000, making eight successful defences, also adding the WBO belt with his victory against another Mexican fighting legend, Marco Antonio Barrera. Morales moved-up in weight and in 2000 and he won the WBC featherweight championship, which he held for two years, later recapturing the WBC featherweight belt in 2002.
He moved-up again to add the WBC super featherweight title to his growing hardware collection in 2004 and five months later, he took the IBF super featherweight title, and then the IBA super featherweight belt against Pacquiao.
Morales’ victims over the years reads like a Who’s Who list and, in addition to Pacquiao and Barrera, includes Pauli Ayala, Wayne McCullough, Junior Jones, Carlos Hernandez, Jesus Chavez, Guty Espadas, Jr. (twice), Daniel Zaragoza and Kevin Kelly.
“I return with desire to succeed,” Morales said. “My plan is to win my fourth world title. We chose Alfaro as my opponent because he is so respected. It’s true, I had some personal problems, received bad advice and had many temptations. I worked hard on it and now I’m better than before. I feel much better, so we took a risk fighting of Alfaro’s quality.”
Alfaro, who has defeated world champions Prawet Singwancha and DeMarcus Corley, believes it’s his time. “Morales is finished,” he claimed. “His past was great but not now. I’m younger, stronger and faster that him and I will demonstrate that March 27th in Monterrey. Morales is definitely wrong to continue boxing. This is a business and something that gives me a better life. I will come to beat him and will win.”
Garay (32-4, 17 KOs), rated No. 3 by the WBA, is a popular Argentinean who defeated Yuri Barashian by decision for the WBA light heavyweight title in 2008, successfully defended against present WBO Interim champion Juergen Braehmer by decision, and then lost his belt by decision last June to Gabriel Campillo.
Henry (24-2, 19 KOs), fighting out of Houston, is coming off of an explosive victory by sixth-round technical knockout of Shaun George last July on ESPN. Henry has been the NABF, NABA, IBA Inter-Continental and USNBC light heavyweight champion during the past four years.
Two of the premier strawweights in the world throw-down in another 12-rounder, unbeaten WBA champion Roman “Chocolalito” Gonzalez (25-0, 21 KOs), representing Nicaragua, and world rated Mexican contender Juan “Churritos” Hernandez (15-1, 12 KOs).
Also slated to fight on this explosive PPV card is the best kept secret in the heavyweight division, El Paso’s undefeated NABA title-holder David “Nino” Rodriguez (32-0, 30 KOs), in a Special Attraction.
“The Champion Returns,” presented by KO Entertainment, is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, TVN and DISH Network, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
