It was the traditional confrontation: age and expertise vs youth and uncooked expertise. Southpaw Daniel Zaragoza was the grizzled veteran, a survivor of 65 skilled battles and a few 21 world title fights with champions comparable to Carlos Zarate, Paul Banke and Jeff Fenech. Within the reverse nook stood Erik Morales, the 21-year-old sensation, considered by some as the subsequent nice Mexican champion. At stake was Zaragoza’s WBC super-bantamweight crown. Broadcast on HBO, Zaragoza vs Morales was considered Morales’ popping out get together, his first probability at a world title and his introduction to American boxing followers. Most anticipated a altering of the guard.
The opening rounds have been shut. Morales fought conservatively, respectfully, whereas Zaragoza threw looping left arms, a number of of which landed. Within the third Morales began choosing up the tempo, forcing Zaragoza again and connecting with jabs and sharp rights. On the finish of the spherical he drove the champion into the ropes along with his assault however the veteran returned fireplace, touchdown a tough left simply earlier than the bell.
Morales appeared content material to outbox Zaragoza within the fourth, his straighter punches dictating the phrases, however that modified close to the tip of the spherical when one of many champion’s haymakers lastly bought house. A wild proper hand got here excessive and landed flush on the youthful man’s jaw, buckling his knees. Zaragoza pounced and the 2 traded with abandon till the bell, each males touchdown. Within the fifth an emboldened Zaragoza pressed the motion, forcing Morales to combat off the again foot as he saved attacking, slinging broad, arcing punches and including in a number of head butts for good measure. Considerably surprisingly, after 5 rounds, Zaragoza had the sting.
However thirty seconds into spherical six Morales stole again the momentum with a vicious counter left hook that put the previous champion on the run. The combat was turning into wild. An unintended conflict of heads opened a small reduce on Zaragoza who was drawing warnings for low blows and hitting on the break. The champion saved speeding Morales, forcing him again, however one other onerous left hook on the finish of the spherical surprised the veteran.
Morales appeared to take a breather in spherical seven, permitting Zaragoza to press and launch extra of his haymakers, however the challenger got here out onerous in spherical eight, throwing potent proper arms, one in every of which had the older man in deep trouble. Staggering concerning the ring, badly damage, the proud champion merely refused to buckle as the gang roared and Morales pounded him from one facet of the ring to the opposite earlier than, amazingly, Zaragoza launched a counter-attack simply earlier than the bell.
Within the ninth it was clear Morales was slowly however certainly gaining management of the combat. Shedding respect for the champion’s energy, he started to open up, battering Zaragoza with inside uppercuts and hooks. Midway by way of the spherical a thudding proper pressured the champion to carry. “El Horrible’s” benefits in energy and energy have been increasingly more evident, however the older man by no means stopped slinging pictures as the gang, exhorting him to dig even deeper, chanted “Zar-a-go-za! Zar-a-go-za!”
However the nicely was dry. A drained champion visibly slowed in spherical ten, Morales beating him to the punch many times. Three sharp rights to the top after which a thunderous proper to the physique pressured the champion to take a knee. Zaragoza rose and, displaying astonishing braveness, tried to power the combat once more, coming ahead behind these overhand swings.
However he had nothing left. Morales was connecting at will and simply earlier than the bell, along with his opponent on the ropes, he paused his assault, reluctant to mete out additional punishment. At spherical’s finish the 2 Mexican warriors, for the primary time within the bout, touched gloves, as if to mark or acknowledge one thing. As they did, Morales appeared fired up and assured, whereas Zaragoza’s visage, lined and seamed like an previous chunk of limestone by years of onerous battling, bore a glance of grim resignation.
Spherical eleven discovered the younger challenger in full management. The one query now was whether or not the proud previous warrior, Mexico’s first four-time world champion, would possibly hear the ultimate bell. Morales couldn’t miss with both his proper hand to the physique or his proper uppercut and with a minute left within the around the combat changed into what it had been threatening to grow to be, a one-sided thrashing. Lastly, mercifully, Morales landed one final big proper to the pit of Zaragoza’s abdomen, the power of the blow launching the previous warrior off his toes and onto his again. Rolling as much as a sitting place, the soon-to-be ex-champion smiled and gestured along with his fist at Morales as if to congratulate his conqueror. He didn’t trouble to attempt to beat the rely.
And so youth was served and the torch was handed. Following the bout Zaragoza admitted he had reached the tip of the highway, ruefully remarking that whereas “at this time was dangerous,” if he saved combating, “in all probability tomorrow will probably be worse.” He had made a gallant stand in opposition to his youthful, extra highly effective opponent however it was time to maneuver on. In the meantime, the legend of “El Horrible” was simply starting and momentous showdowns in opposition to Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao awaited Morales. Like Zaragoza, he would finally win 4 world titles and Corridor of Fame standing and when he fell to a younger Danny Garcia in 2012, he had come full circle and it was his flip to lastly stroll away.
— Robert Portis
