Boxing News Boxing News
Former four-division world champion and Mexican boxing icon Erik “El Terrible” Morales is the new trainer for undefeated WBA super lightweight champion Jessie Vargas.
Morales, who received the call a few days ago, is already in Vargas’ Las Vegas-based training camp preparing him for the biggest fight of his professional career, against former two-division world champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley Jr.
Vargas (26-0, 9 KOs), a native of Los Angeles who now lives in Las Vegas, and Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., will go mano-a-mano for the vacant WBO welterweight title, Saturday, June 27, at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The fight will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
These two gladiators boast a combined record of 57-1-1 (21 KOs); a winning percentage of 97%.
“I am very religious so I began to pray for the right person to train me,” said Vargas. “Instantly, the name of Erik Morales came to me. I was able to track him down and he came right to our training camp in Las Vegas.
“I watched practically of all Erik’s big fights – the wars with Marco Antonio Barrera, the fights against Manny Pacquiao. Erik always fought hard and with all his heart. That’s who I want in my corner, someone who will give me everything they have to beat Bradley.”
“I’ve trained many fighters in Mexico. But Jessie is the best fighter I will be working with and this is the biggest fight, against Bradley,” said Morales. “We will win this fight. Jessie will put on pressure with intelligence and mix it up, using counter-punching. Bradley likes to go into his comfort zone in the ring. We will attack there too.”
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Tecate, remaining tickets to the Bradley vs. Vargas welterweight championship event, priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, (plus applicable taxes and fees), can be purchased online at http://www.axs.com, by telephone at (888) 929-7849 or at the StubHub Center box office, Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Suites are available by calling (877) 604-8777. For information on group discounts, please call (877) 234-8425.
