Morales vs Barrios Could Be for WBC Title at 140 Pounds

by Scott Christ on Jul 27, 2011 10:21 AM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

Jose Luis Camarillo of notifight.com and BoxingScene.com reports that Erik Morales' September 17 fight could well be for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title. With Timothy Bradley inactive, Morales has filed a formal request to fight for the belt, and the WBC has sent the request to its board for approval.

The 34-year-old Morales (51-7, 35 KO) will be facing Argentina's Jorge Barrios (50-4-1, 35 KO) on the Mayweather vs Ortiz undercard on HBO PPV, from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Currently, Morales is ranked as the No. 3 contender to the title by the WBC. Barrios has never fought above lightweight, where he has no notable fights. He is unranked in any division by the WBC.

In other words, the WBC approving this fight for the vacant belt would again show incredible bias. Currently, Ajose Olusegun (WBC #2 contender) and Ali Chebah (WBC #6 contender) are scheduled to fight an eliminator on September 30. By any fair standard (while taking into consideration the limitations of boxing matchmaking and whatnot) if they're going to strip Timothy Bradley of his title, that should be bumped to a vacant title fight.

If the WBC approves the title fight, and Morales wins, he will technically be the first Mexican fighter to ever win major, non-interim titles in four weight classes. Considering how hard so many -- including Morales -- have fought over the years only to come up short running down that dream, it would feel just a little cheap for it to happen this way. But then again, maybe that's perfect for today's boxing climate. After years of people caring about that, everyone just gets a cheap, manufactured knockoff of what it could have been.

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So Crolla-Morales is off?!

by LtfcPete on Jul 27, 2011 11:25 AM EDT reply actions

yes

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Jul 27, 2011 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

How come?

by Phill on Jul 27, 2011 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

I’m guessing a few reasons:

1. Barrios was already supposed to fight Morales last year, now it’s just basically rescheduled.
2. Golden Boy prefers Barrios to Crolla.
3. While Barrios is basically nobody in the States, Crolla is extra nobody.
4. There’s no way the WBC would sanction Morales vs Crolla for a belt, but they can chuck Barrios into their top 15 pretty easily.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Jul 27, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Who do you feel is the bigger threat to Morales? I haven’t seen or heard of Barrios since the Freitas fight.

by Phill on Jul 27, 2011 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Last time I saw Barrios on HBO was when Rocky Juarez busted his lip totally apart. It was nasty.

by BloodMeridian on Jul 27, 2011 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I suppose it's Barrios' name.

But this has to be a more less meaningful fight for Morales now surely.

by Phill on Jul 27, 2011 1:40 PM EDT reply actions

World’s Biggest Crooks (WBC) showing bias? Never!

Morales is everything that is great about boxing ………but c’mon. The WBC should just give him the title………………..you know that crook Sulaimain is just dying to.

by DPlainview on Jul 27, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions