By Ben Jacobs

Given the success of his legendary brother Érik, and the fact that his other brother Diego was a world champion as well, Iván Morales (29-1, 17 KOs) is aware of what is at stake when he challenges Britain’s Lee Haskins on May 14 for the IBF bantamweight title.

The Tijuana native has been preparing for the bout in Toluca, roughly an hour’s distance from Mexico City.  Speaking to BoxingScene.com via telephone after one of his final training sessions, the affable southpaw explained how he is feeling ahead of the show at the Ice Arena in Cardiff, Wales.

“I had an idea that I might fight for the world title before I lost my unbeaten record, obviously that loss complicated my path towards a title shot.  But Lee Haskins gave me this opportunity and now it is a reality.”

Haskins, previously the IBF interim champion was elevated to full champion after his projected opponent Randy Caballero was stripped of the belt due to failure to make weight.  Morales insisted that makes no difference to him or how he challenges for the title.

“I know he didn’t win it in the ring but sincerely it doesn’t interest me.  On fight night he will go into the ring as the champion, on his home turf.  My objective is to get in the ring and bring the title home, be it for a vacant title or anything else.

“I’m happy to fight over there because if I win overseas it will give me more merit as champion,” Morales continued. 

“I know that everyone over there is very passionate about boxing, not just boxing but I know how big football and sport in general is over there, so the fans are very passionate.  I want to make it a good fight for the fans, not just to win.

“People can expect me to be fast, aggressive, with good leg movement.  I’m going to fight a clean fight and I hope Haskins does as well because clean fights can mean more entertaining fights.  Let’s set a good example to everyone.”

Morales admitted he has studied Haskins and length but conceded that anything could happen once the two men step into the ring.

“I have watched a lot of his fights, I’ve been studying his qualities, his mistakes, and I think I have learnt a lot about his boxing.  I know on fight night he could be different because every fighter changes according to the rival and circumstances.  But I trust in my conditioning and the work we have done in the gym, and I’m going to win this fight.”

Following his first and only lost last year against Edgar Jiménez, Morales decided to move his training camp to Toluca.

“After losing that fight my career was affected because my chances of fighting for the world title looked improbable.  So this year I decided to put even more importance to my career and thankfully I have this chance with Lee Haskins.  I was originally scheduled to fight around April time, but then they called me for this chance.”

Not many families can say they have three world champion brothers, but Iván is close to joining Érik and Diego. 

“This is huge for my family, it’s not every day that you can have three world champions from the same family,” he enthused. 

“Our parents taught us good values and wanted us to reach our dreams.  They hoped we’d be good people but I don’t think they ever thought they’d have three sons who would be world champions, and we are a week away from that.  I have faith that it will happen, my parents and brothers will be very happy with my fight.

“The only other family is the Kameda family, they were the first to do it and we will be the second.  It’s something historic for my country.”