By James Slater – Mexican legend Erik Morales won the second fight in his latest comeback last night, as he stopped game Scot Willie Limond in the 6th-round in Mexico City. Three times in an exciting 6th-round “El Terrible” sent Limond to the canvas with savage body shots, the final knockdown prompting referee Jay Nady to call a halt. The Official time was 2-minutes and 46-seconds. Morales is now 50-6(35). Limond, who gave it his best shot, is now 33-3(8)..
While Limond is a relative light-puncher and also no elite-level fighter, fans of Morales can take heart from last night’s victory. Proving he has quite a bit left to offer, the 34-year-old looked pretty fast and accurate as soon as he’d worked off the rust in the early rounds. Almost looking like the “El Terrible” of old in the 6th and final round – a round that saw Limond keep getting up and then bite down hard and do his best to trade with the former three-weight king – Morales put his punches together well and made sure he got the finish he was looking for.
Now 2-0(1) since returning to the ring following his August 2007 points loss to David Diaz, Morales, fighting at light-welterweight, might just win one more big fight yet. Of course, Morales’ aim is a fight with lightweight king and countryman Juan Manuel Marquez, and Morales wants very much to become the first ever Mexican to win world titles in four different weight divisions. Last night, Morales won something called the WBC silver light-welterweight title, but we all know that doesn’t put Erik in the history books.
The idea of a fight with Marquez is proving intriguing to some, and even more fans will warm to the idea after last night’s impressive display by the veteran. But can Morales, who scaled 143-pounds against the 31-year-old Limond (a fighter who, it should be pointed out, had won his last five fights before facing Morales), get down to 135? It looks doubtful. Maybe he would still take a non-title catch-weight fight with Marquez, but Morales does want that fourth title. Time will tell.
Limond, famous for decking and badly hurting Amir Khan a couple of years ago, really fancied the job last night and he came to fight. Overpowered by a man who always was and probably always will be a terrific body puncher, Limond will likely tell you Morales is capable of earning more glory yet. Amazingly, after a seventeen-year, 56-fight pro career, Morales has more left to give!