It was the basic 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 resembling 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 thought to be Morales’ popping out celebration, his first likelihood at a world title and his introduction to American boxing followers. Most anticipated a altering of the guard.
The opening rounds had been shut. Morales fought conservatively, respectfully, whereas Zaragoza threw looping left arms, a couple 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 together with his assault however the veteran returned hearth, 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 top of the spherical when one of many champion’s haymakers lastly bought dwelling. 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 battle off the again foot as he saved attacking, slinging vast, arcing punches and including in a couple 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 battle was turning into wild. An unintentional conflict of heads opened a small lower on Zaragoza who was drawing warnings for low blows and hitting on the break. The champion saved dashing Morales, forcing him again, however one other arduous left hook on the finish of the spherical shocked 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 arduous in spherical eight, throwing potent proper arms, one in all which had the older man in deep trouble. Staggering concerning the ring, badly damage, the proud champion merely refused to buckle as the group roared and Morales pounded him from one aspect 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 absolutely gaining management of the battle. Dropping respect for the champion’s energy, he started to open up, battering Zaragoza with inside uppercuts and hooks. Midway by means of the spherical a thudding proper pressured the champion to carry. “El Horrible’s” benefits in energy and power had been increasingly evident, however the older man by no means stopped slinging pictures as the group, exhorting him to dig even deeper, chanted “Zar-a-go-za! Zar-a-go-za!”
However the properly 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 battle once more, coming ahead behind these overhand swings.
However he had nothing left. Morales was connecting at will and simply earlier than the bell, together 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 arduous 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, may 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 battle changed into what it had been threatening to develop into, 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 ft and onto his again. Rolling as much as a sitting place, the soon-to-be ex-champion smiled and gestured together with his fist at Morales as if to congratulate his conqueror. He didn’t hassle 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 top of the street, ruefully remarking that whereas “in the present day was unhealthy,” if he saved combating, “in all probability tomorrow will probably be worse.” He had made a gallant stand towards 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 towards Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao awaited Morales. Like Zaragoza, he would ultimately 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
