Saturday, November 16, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

COLUMN: Royce Feour

Size favors Morales, but Ayala is better bet

As Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events promotional company, said, size matters in boxing.

Duva's fighter, Fernando Vargas, a natural junior middleweight, recently was stopped in the 11th round by Oscar De La Hoya, who was in only his second fight in the 154-pound division. However, fighters moving up in weight usually are at a size disadvantage.

Of course, there are many instances when fighters moving up in weight dominate the naturally bigger boxer. But that's usually because the smaller man is a better boxer or the heavier fighter is over the hill.

Johnny Tapia, a veteran warrior if there ever was one, started as a 115-pound super flyweight and moved up until he reached the featherweight division. But Marco Antonio Barrera was too much for Tapia at 126 pounds two weeks ago at the MGM Grand. Two judges correctly gave Barrera 10 of the 12 rounds in a unanimous decision.

Paulie Ayala (34-1) faces the same situation in moving up to featherweight to face Erik Morales (41-1) for the vacant WBC title tonight at Mandalay Bay.

Trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. said Ayala and Morales were skilled fighters, but said bigger and younger fighters should win. In this case, 5-foot-8-inch Morales is 26, while 5-5 Ayala is 32.

Morales, a former WBC super bantamweight (122 pounds) and featherweight champion, will have a height, reach and size advantage.

"That is a big advantage," he said. "He's never fought a real 126-pounder. He might be 130 pounds the day of the fight. I might be up to 138 pounds by then. When he starts hitting me and I don't feel anything, that's when the frustration will come in."

Morales might be getting too big to remain in the featherweight division. He said he might move up to the 130-pound junior lightweight division after the fight.

Ayala dismissed the notion Morales will be too big. Ayala has worked on getting bigger and stronger since his last fight, a 12-round decision over Bones Adams nine months ago.

Ayala said he has grown to about 135 to 138 pounds between fights, but went up to 154 before tonight's fight to bulk up. He said he lifted weights and increased his protein intake and has been sparring with featherweights, junior lightweights and bigger fighters.

"They are making too big of an issue on size," said Ayala, who listed what he sees as his advantages.

"It will be who is the smartest guy in the ring," he said. "Speed is going to be a big advantage for me."

Ayala must press Morales and maintain his aggressive style. If Morales is able to fight on the outside, he will benefit from his reach advantage. Morales also is a bigger puncher. Ayala doesn't want to give him punching room.

Ayala doesn't figure to stop Morales. His last eight fights, including seven 12-rounders, have gone the distance. His aggressive style plays well with the judges in close rounds.

It's a fight that could go either way, so don't bet Morales at minus-360. Take the plus-280 on Ayala in another close decision.

Royce Feour's boxing column is published Saturday. He can be reached by phone at 383-0354, fax at 383-4676 or e-mail at rfeour@reviewjournal.com.