Boxing Preview: Eric Morales vs. Marcos Maidana

© Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Can 34 year old former three weight world champion Erick Morales compete against one of today’s top light welterweights? The Mexican legend will answer that question tonight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV as he faces Marcos Maidana for the Interim WBA title.

From 1997 to 2004 Morales, 51-6 (35), terrorized the super bantam, feather and super featherweight divisions, winning WBC, WBO and IBF titles and only coming up short against Marco Antonio Barrera in bouts two and three of their exciting trilogy.

His masterful 2005 defeat of Manny Pacquiao was the last great win, to date, of his career as he then consecutively lost to Zahir Raheem, Manny Pacquiao on two occasions and then to David Diaz at lightweight before hanging up the gloves in 2007.

Three years later, “El Terrible” was back and has since defeated Jose Alfaro at welterweight along with Willie Limond and Francisco Lorenzo at light welter.

Now he meets Interim WBA titleholder Maidana, 29-2 (27), who is coming off a points defeat to WBA champ Amir Khan in which Maidana had to come off the canvas.

The Morales of old was a complete two-fisted wrecking machine, possessing speed, power, stamina and ruthless finishing skills that proved to be an unbeatable combination over the first nine years of his career.

But can the Tijuana native turn back the clock and win his first truly high level bout in four years? That will likely prove difficult.

At lighter weights, Morales was expert at leveraging a height advantage to good effect, particularly in use of his lethal straight right but now, he will be the shorter fighter.

He also gives up seven years to the 27 year old Argentine and that should prove to be the biggest hurdle for Morales, as he has seen much age related deterioration of his quickness and fluidity.

Maidana has big power in both hands, as evidenced by his high KO percentage, and it should be interesting to see what effect that has upon the veteran Mexican as he no longer possesses the artillery barrage-like offense that proved to be his best defense.

Maidana is particularly keen on body puncher but ironically was saved by the bell in the first round against Khan after taking a perfect left to the liver. Morales has excellent body punching skills and will likely make Maidana’s midsection his target, but he’ll have to be able to take advantage of any openings presented.

Despite the myriad accomplishments of his glory years, Morales will be hard pressed to defeat Maidana, who will likely win this one on points.

The undercard sees a few former world champions in what should be entertaining bouts.

Interim WBO lightweight champ Michael Katsidis, 27-3 (22), faces ex-IBF feather and super feather titlist Robert Guerrero, 28-1-1 (18), in a contest that also is for the Interim WBA strap.

Southpaw Guerrero is the taller fighter but Australia’s Katsidis is a rough and tumble customer and this should be a thrilling war for as long as it lasts.

Guerrero will have the speed and skill advantage but Katsidis, a career long lightweight, should be the stronger of the pair. Guerrero should be able to punch inside the holes in the defense of Katsidis but the Aussie throws heavy punches from unexpected angles and will test Guerrero’s chin.

Former IBF light welter titlist Paulie Malignaggi, 28-4 (6), tangles with Jose Miguel Cotto, 32-2-1 (24), over ten rounds at welterweight.

Cotto held regional belts at super bantam, super feather and lightweight before failing to unseat WBA lightweight champ Juan Diaz in 2006 and is much shorter than Malignaggi.

The Puerto Rican narrowly missed capturing the vacant WBA lightweight title a year later, drawing with Prawet Singwancha and since then lost his only high level bout by stoppage to current WBC light middle king Saul Alvarez.

Malignaggi will be trying to right his career after losing a WBA light welter title bout to Amir Khan last year but should win this one in a closely contested points verdict.