Erik Morales Could Make First Title Defense in Tijuana

According to Felipe Leon of Fightnews.com, new WBC junior welterweight titleholder Erik Morales could be back in the ring fairly soon, and the boxing commission in Tijuana wants "El Terrible" to come home for his first title defense:

"We have an appointment to talk early next week," [Tijuana Boxing Commission executive director Juan Carlos Pelayo] Pelayo stated. "It would be a great honor for us to have Morales fight in Tijuana again. With his most recent win, he proved that he is still in the top echelons of the sport."

Morales (52-7, 36 KO) stopped Pablo Cesar Cano in a bloody, hard-fought battle on the Mayweather vs Ortiz undercard on September 17, becoming the first Mexican-born fighter to win major titles in four different weight classes. It was a mark Morales first attempted in 2007, when he lost a great fight to lightweight titlist David Diaz. Four years later, he made it happen, against all odds.

Morales says he wants to rematch Marcos Maidana, but that fight wouldn't happen until next year. An "easy" first defense in Tijuana wouldn't be a surprise at all. For whatever it might be worth, Ajose Olusegun and Ali Chebah are meeting in a title eliminator on September 30, which will air on ShoBox in the United States.