Sunday, February 29, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ROYCE FEOUR: Morales won easily, but Chavez also showed heart

The fans gave the fight a standing ovation in the final seconds, and both boxers deserved it.

Erik Morales earned the ovation for an outstanding performance in capturing a one-sided 12-round victory over Jesus Chavez for the WBC super featherweight championship Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden.

And Chavez also deserved a standing ovation if ever a fighter who lost almost every round did. Chavez injured his right shoulder throwing a punch in the second round and fought the rest of the bout as a one-handed fighter.

Morales joined the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez as the second Mexican-born fighter to win championships in three weight classes. He dominated Chavez, who lost his 130-pound title in his first defense.

I thought Morales, of Tijuana, won every round except the first, when Chavez staggered him with a right hand, although Chavez somehow managed to hang in there for the full 12 rounds.

Judge Burt Clements of Reno gave Morales 10 rounds (118-108) and Daniel van De Wiele scored nine rounds for Morales (117-109), but how John Keane of England came up with Morales only winning 115-112 is astounding. Keane gave Chavez five rounds and had one even, meaning the judge only had Morales winning the fight 6-5-1 in rounds.

Morales scored two knockdowns in the second round and Keane correctly scored that a 10-7 round for Morales, but there is no way Chavez won five rounds.

Chavez did turn in a highly courageous effort and there is no questioning his heart. But Morales beat the heck out of him and it was a tribute to Chavez that he stayed on his feet and had the desire and will to finish the fight.

Keane has been a good judge in the past, but after giving Chavez five rounds, the Nevada Athletic Commission should lose his number for a couple of years.

Morales was so dominant that a couple of the rounds approached being scored 10-8. They weren't quite 10-8 rounds, but they were certainly one-sided Morales rounds.

Even though it was a lopsided fight, the announced crowd of 8,094 got their money's worth, at least those who weren't comped.

Morales, who is probably one of the top 10 fighters in the world, made a big splash in the 130-pound division and Chavez did more for himself in losing a one-sided fight than most fighters do in winning.

Morales landed 284 punches, including 199 power punches, according to statistics from CompuBox. Meanwhile, Chavez was credited with 233 punches landed, including 136 power punches. But everything Chavez threw after the second round was a left hand.

Chavez said he wanted to go home to Austin, Texas, let his injured right shoulder heal and then he would ask for a rematch.

But Morales has bigger fights to pursue, starting with a 130-pound title-unification fight against IBF junior lightweight champion Carlos Hernandez.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said if Morales beats Hernandez -- and Morales should do that -- he would try to match Manny Pacquiao against Morales if Pacquiao beats Juan Manuel Marquez, the WBA and IBF featherweight champion, in their proposed bout.

Morales also could have a big-money fight against the winner of next Saturday's Joel Casamayor-Diego Corrales fight in Mashantucket, Conn.

Morales would beat Chavez again in a rematch, but nobody can fault Chavez's effort or his heart in losing.

Royce Feour can be reached by phone at 383-0354, fax at 383-4676 or e-mail at rfeour@reviewjournal.com.