The Top 100 Greatest Boxers Pound per Pound of All-Time

[Ambling Alp II]

Comparisons are beginning to surface between this thread and extremely slow, sadistic torture.

[Counter-puncher]

[Onetimeonly]

Morales, like the great delahoya, was outside the top 100 of the non sloth list. Gotta give Elmo at least that.

[elmersalsa]

Erik "El Terrible" Morales makes his 7th defense successfully and his 9th straight win by knockout and improves to 34-0, with 28 knockouts when he defeated challenger Reynante Jamilli of Philippines.

Jamilli had a respectable record of 39-4 with 30KOs.

The fight was at The Bull Ring in Tijuana, Mexico. Morales' hometown.

Next, El Terrible had his sights on former world champion Wayne McCoullough of England.

[elmersalsa]

El Terrible's 8th title defense of his crown was in the famous Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI.

He defended it against a tough cookie named Wayne McCullough of Ireland, a former bantamweight world champion with a record of 24-2 with 14 knockouts. McCullough fought like a warrior, but really, he was outclassed by a superior fighter that is improving in each fight. By this time, Morales was a complete fighter. There was nothing that he couldn't do.

I only gave the Irish man 2 rounds in that fight. Maybe 3. But, I give him this: the guy was a tough SOB that could take a shot. If that Naseem Hamed couldn't put him away, neither would Morales.

Morales won outright. This was the last opponent that Morales did not put away in his 8 title defenses. McCullough ended El Terrible's streak of 9 straight bouts won by knockout.

Morales of Tijuana, Mexico improves to 35-0 with 28KOs.

Next for El Terrible? A Mexican Civil War Showdown with fellow countryman, the great Marco Antonio Barrera.

[Jaywheel]

Aren't we all on the edge of our seats?

[elmersalsa]

Erik "El Terrible" Morales was all business to defend his WBC World Super Bantamweight crown against fellow countryman, The Baby Face Assassin, the great Marco Antonio Barrera.

This was indeed a Mexican Civil War. It was Tijuana vs Mexico City. This rivalry was compared to other ones like Ruben Olivares vs Chucho Castillo and Carlos Zarate vs Alfonso Zamora in the lore of great Mexican showdowns.

Barrera had a record of 49-2, with 36 knockouts. He lost twice to one man. And ironically, it was one of Terrible's victims. His name: Junior Jones of Brooklyn, NY.

But since losing to Jones, Barrera won 6 straight fights out of 7. In his last fight, it was ruled a No-Contest against countryman Cesar Najera in 4 rounds.

The Mandalay Bay Casino was packed of fans rooting for their favorite. The partisan crowd was mostly Mexican. And everyone expected a war. Both combatants did not disappoint. A war of the ages they gave us. It was The Ring Magazine fight of the Year of 2000.

Both guys hated each other. And both wanted to be the heir apparent of idol Julio Cesar Chavez.

For 12 rigorous rounds, both fighters gave us all they had. Barrera had a small cut below the left eye. Morales went down in the 12th by a knockdown. But, was it really a knockdown? Each round was full of excitement. A see-saw battle. The fight was very close. Some rounds were for El Terrible. And some went for The Baby Face Assassin. But there gotta be one winner. And Morales won by split decision. It was that close.

Judge Carol Castellano scored it 114-113 for El Terrible. Judge Duane Ford scored it 114-113 for the Baby Face Assassin. And Dalby Shirley scored it 115-112 for the winner and still WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion, Erik "El Terrible" Morales! All judges were American.

I scored it a draw.


Their first fight of the trilogy was one of tge greatest fights of all time without question. Perhaps, the greatest super bantamweight fight ever. And definitely, one of the best fights of the last 20 years. Anybody wants a rematch?


Morales inproves to 36-0, with 28KOs. It was indeed, his defining fight.

And

[elmersalsa]

In Barrera vs Morales fights, especially the first one, no matter how many times you see it, if you score the fight, it would give you a different outcome each time. That fight was really close.

[elmersalsa]

Journeyman featherweight Mike Juarez of Omaha, NE was not a match for the great Erik "El Terrible" Morales who was making his featherweight debut on the undercard of the Oscar De LaHoya-Shane Mosley superfight of June 17, 2000 at the Staple Center of Los Angeles, CA.

Morales relinquished the WBC World Super Bantamweight crown because he no longer could make weight. So, he jumped to 4 more pounds to make a mark at featherweight.

Already established as one of pound per pound best fighters in the world, he also ranked himself as one the best fighters ever of the 122lbs division history. He never lost his crown in 9 title defenses.

His debut at featherweight was an easy one. Maybe too easy. He pummeled for 3 rounds a an unknown with a record of 22-8-1 with only 9 knockout wins.

Morales dropped Juarez in each round. It was over in round 3. And just like that, he got a title shot for the WBC World Featherweight crown against champion Kevin Kelley of New York City.


Terrible improves to 37-0 with 29 knockouts.

[Jaywheel]

De la Hoya - Mosley, what a fight between two greats!

[Jaywheel]

De la Hoya - Mosley, what a fight between two greats!

No matter how you wanna see it. Oscarito was robbed in that one. And the rematch too!! On ly true greats are able to overcome such adversity!!

[elmersalsa]

De la Hoya - Mosley, what a fight between two greats!

No matter how you wanna see it. Oscarito was robbed in that one. And the rematch too!! On ly true greats are able to overcome such adversity!!

Oscar De La Hoya is great to you. To me, he does not crack the top 100 all-time pound per pound greats.

[elmersalsa]

WBC World Featherweight Champion, Guty Espadas, Jr was injured to make a title defense.

So, on Saturday, September 2, 2000, broadcasted by HBO Sports, in a feature double header, the WBC matched former champion Kevin "Flushing Flash" Kelley of Queens, NY against El Terrible for the interim WBC World Featherweight Title. The winner, fights Espadas, Jr for the recognition of the WBC crown.

Kelley was 33 years old. Did age was a factor on the shellacking beating El Terrible put on him? He was simply outclassed in 7 rounds. Out of those rounds, Kelly won one, which was the third. The rest? Was all Erik Morales!

Kelley had over 57 fights as a pro. A good southpaw boxer with lightning speed. His record at the time was 51-4-2 with 34KOs. He had 19 more fights than the great Mexican of Tijuana.

El Terrible dropped Kelley on the 5th round and again in the 7th to win by technical knockout.

The new interim WBC World Featherweight Champion is Erik "El Terrible" Morales!

Morales, 24, and in his prime, improves to 38-0, with 30KOs. He was already considered as one of the best top pound per pound fighters in the world as of that time.

[elmersalsa]

Before Mexican Terrible's next big fight against countryman WBC World Featherweight Champion Guty Espadas, Jr, he destroyed by KO an unheralded journeyman American named Rodney Jones in 2.

On Saturday February 17, 2001 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, Morales, the interim featherweight champ, fought Espadas in a brutal battle. It was almost like in his fight with the other great countryman Marco Antonio Barrera. Not as dramatic was the fight, but very entertaining to say at least. It was one of the best fights of the 2000s decade.

Morales proved that he sometimes does not have to overpower his opponents, but also he knew that he could outbox them. And he did outboxed Espadas, a worthy champion with a respectable record of 33-2, with 20 knockouts. In the final round, Espadas hit Morales with a terrific straight right. Morales' knees buckled and he was in bad shape. In queer street. But his remarkable recovery, great physical shape and great chin saved him from a knockout loss.

Espadas is the son of former flyweight champion Guty Espadas, Sr.

The decision was a little controversial to some, but not in my view. American judges saw the bout like this:
Dick Flaherty 115-113
David Harris and also Jerry Roth saw it 116-112. All in favor for the new WBC World Featherweight Champion, Erik "El Terrible" Morales!

I saw it 116-115 in favor of El Terrible.

Morales steps to another milestone im his career by winning his second world crown in 2 different weight classes.

Morales improves to 40-0, with 31 knockouts.

[elmersalsa]

El Terrible makes his first world title defense against South Korean In Jin Chi at the Los Angeles Staple Center on July 28, 2001 of a triple-header that also featured the great champion Roy Jones, Jr.

When you think of South Korean boxers, you think about smooth boxing skills, speed and accuracy, heart and tremendous strength and stamina. Well, the challenger Chi had all of that with the exception of smooth boxing skills. He was not smooth in no part of this fight. But, he brought ruggedness and toughness that would make great fighters like Jake LaMotta, Carmen Basilio and Arturo Gatti proud. He would fight you until the last second without fear. Chi did not give the champ Morales no respect. He wore in and fought inside. Something uncharacteristical for Oriental fighters.

Chi lost his first pro fight. But, after that won his next 24 fights against nobodies. Who did he beat to put himself at the world rankings?, you may ask.

But, he proved to be a worthy challenger. He was rugged and game. And threw a lot of leather. In round 5, he had Terrible in bad shape. Terrible claimed that Chin headbutted him. The referee, Jose Cobian of Mexico, stopped the fight to check on Morales. He got a gash on his left eyelid product of a punch and also a headbutt. But, Terrible was in bad shape. It was the best round of the fight.

As for Terrible, his cornermen have concerns about his punching power at featherweight. Does 4 pounds affect his punching power? At 122lbs, he was destroying almost everyone. Why not at 126lbs? He also looked a little slower. Did 4 pounds did him in?

But, as a great warrior that Morales is, he also could rely on boxing skills. And he got boxing skills. He could box. He proved that in his 2 last title bouts, that he is a COMPLETE FIGHTER.

Morales won outright. He was the better man. But, he had to go through a little storm that Chi gave him.

Morales wins his 41st straight fight since the beginning of his pro boxing career. He is undefeated with a record of 41 -0, with 31 knockouts.

[elmersalsa]

In Jin Chi became champion 3 years later after losing on his title try against El Terrible.

[elmersalsa]

Erik "El Terrible" Morales of Tijuana, Mexico, loses his crown and undefeated record after 41 professional fight wins.

The question for many was, did he really lost his undefeated record to his countryman, the great Marco Antonio Barrera in their rematch?


I really believe that Morales by a slim margin, edged it. Morales was the better man. Did the judges make up for the first fight in which many people thought Barrera won? Or the money-hungry promoters wanted El Terrible to lose at all costs if it comes by decision and then make a rubber match?

Morales won this second fight in my view. He outboxed Barrera. To take the champion's belt you got to overwhelm the champion. He did not do so. But, I would not had a problem if the judges would have given him the nod in the first fight.

Morales vs Barrera fights were so hard to score. They were so evenly-match. The first fight could have gone either way. I had it a draw 114-114 if the knockdown in round 12 was a real one. To me, it was not. So, El Terrible edged it 115-114. It was the third time that I have seen this fight and when I scored it twice, it gave me the same result.

The rematch? El Terrible clearly won it 117-114. It was a much more tactical and awarely fought fight than their slugfest two years earlier.

By the year 2001, after losing to Morales, Barrera of Mexico City, Mexico, went into a transformation of using a different style of fighting that people were not accustomed to see. It was like if he reinvented and adjusted himself for the second half of his 11-year pro boxing career at the time. He did that by starting beating 3 former world champions like Jesus Salud of Philippines and countryman Enrique Sanchez. But, the most surprinsing victory was when he outboxed undefeated superstar Prince Naseem Hamed of England. Hamed was the heavy favorite and Barrera outmanuevered him. His status as a premier fighter was back again in place. Barrera became a counter-puncher.

He tried that against Terrible and it was not a great tactic. He should have pressure Terrible, just like he did in their first meeting.

But, the bottom line was at the time that Morales lost his undefeated record and the crown. My question is, did he really lost?

Morales record is 41-1, with 31KOs.

[Jaywheel]

Something I don't recall seeing Erik Morales in was the Great cult show the Simpsons. But guess who was? That is right, El magnifico Oscarito!!!

[Counter-puncher]

El Terrible makes his first world title defense against South Korean In Jin Chi at the Los Angeles Staple Center on July 28, 2001 of a triple-header that also featured the great champion Roy Jones, Jr.

When you think of South Korean boxers, you think about smooth boxing skills, speed and accuracy

Really? when i think about Korean fighters I think about them eating punches for fun and a thousand headbutts

[Counter-puncher]

But, as a great warrior that Morales is, he also could rely on boxing skills. And he got boxing skills. He could box. He proved that in his 2 last title bouts, that he is a COMPLETE FIGHTER.

compared to the great Eusebio Pedrosa, i would not say so

[elmersalsa]

But, as a great warrior that Morales is, he also could rely on boxing skills. And he got boxing skills. He could box. He proved that in his 2 last title bouts, that he is a COMPLETE FIGHTER.

compared to the great Eusebio Pedrosa, i would not say so

It is hard to compare him with Pedroza. Pedroza was in another level even though Morales was much more accomplished as a fighter.

[Counter-puncher]

But, as a great warrior that Morales is, he also could rely on boxing skills. And he got boxing skills. He could box. He proved that in his 2 last title bouts, that he is a COMPLETE FIGHTER.

compared to the great Eusebio Pedrosa, i would not say so

It is hard to compare him with Pedroza. Pedroza was in another level even though Morales was much more accomplished as a fighter.

He’s not as complete as the great Eusebiolito

[elmersalsa]

compared to the great Eusebio Pedrosa, i would not say so

It is hard to compare him with Pedroza. Pedroza was in another level even though Morales was much more accomplished as a fighter.

He’s not as complete as the great Eusebiolito

Exactly. At least we both agree about that.

[elmersalsa]

After losing his crown and undefeated record to the great Marco Antonio Barrera, El Terrible was matched for the vacant WBC World Championship that Barrera soon vacated.

On Saturday, November 16, 2002 in Las Vegas, NV, El Terrible was matched against former WBA World Bantamweight Champion and 1999 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year Paulie Ayala of Forth Worth, TX.

Ayala made noise when he beat twice former world champion, American Johnny Tapia. His first fight with Tapia was also The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year.

Ayala came to the ring with a respectable record of 34-1 with 12KOs.

But, it seemed like going up in weight class was too much for the 5'5" Ayala. He was totally physically in a disavdantage. Morales was 3" taller and had an 11" reach above Ayala. And was stronger and younger.

And from the opening bell, it was a total mismatch. Morales won at least 9 rounds in my view. He was by far the superior fighter. It was not like if Ayala did not tried. He tried. He was just totally outclassed. The only thing that was missing from El Terrible's sensational performance was a knockout. He showed and proved that he can do anything and everything in that ring as a COMPLETE fighter.

I voted 118-112 for Terrible. He recovered his crown but not his undefeated record.

El Terrible improves to 42-1 with 31KOs.

[Jaywheel]

Merry Xmas from a True Top 100 All-time P4P COMPLETE great: