By  Matthew Sanderson

It’s always a mistake for a fighter to show weakness – especially when the opponent is a crackling ball of energy. That’s what Erik Morales did against Manny Pacquiao at the end of their lively scrap under a year ago. Ahead and in control, Erik opted to fight out of the southpaw stance and got hammered for his troubles, in the twelfth frame.

 

It was a turning point in their rivalry. If the previous 11 rounds had seen Erik knock back Manny’s rushes with crisp counters, then next contest would be a different story. He’d tamed the lion, but ‘Pac Man’ knew he could devour him after all.

 

The great Mexican hung on for a wonderful win. But that foolhardy lapse also showed Manny the way to beat him up. Just as Erik couldn’t see the right hook coming from the natural leftie, the same weapon would add a bruising new dimension to Manny’s game, come last Saturday’s rematch – even with Eric in his proper stance.

 

The result, with Erik exhausted and broken on the canvas, was a sad one. Due to a career as bruising and long as his, the day that he’d fold instead of find a way back was going to happen. But pathos aside, it’s changed the geography of the super featherweight scene and points toward exciting new possibilities.

 

Let’s face it, a Morales win would’ve been a bit predictable, right?

 

The path now seems a clear and exciting one, with the new, improved Pacquiao ready to challenge WBC and IBF champion Marco Antonio Barrera. At least, it seemed so. That’s why Barrera’s decision to challenge IBF lightweight champ Jesus Chavez after months of indecision feels like something of a dampener.

 

No one can complain about that pairing, but there are more pressing immediate concerns.

 

Namely, we need to find out if the versatile Mexican can reverse Manny’s late 2003 beatdown of him. We want to see Manny get his hard earned title shot, and have a crack at being a four-division champion (to add to his flyweight, super bantamweight and featherweight crowns) – in what could be the biggest fight available in boxing.

 

Manny wanted a rest after his ferocious effort versus Morales. He may get a longer one than expected.

 

Had Barrera and Pacquiao been locked in a second battle, our old favorite Morales may have been tempted into an intriguing fight with Mr Chavez. That would’ve been another crucial rematch of a 2003 fight in which the loser, Chavez, wasn’t at his best.

 

Could Morales, now 29, have beaten ‘El Matador’ had the latter’s right shoulder not let him down? The fight itself was inconclusive – in the early going, Morales pulled himself out of serious trouble by rocking and dropping Chavez. But after Chavez was struck by injury, Morales was listless, doing only enough to win the rounds.

 

An intense, unpredictable war with an impending KO finish became a labored points win for ‘El Terrible’. A rematch should have been imperative, and would still be welcome. (Chavez bounced back to win a war with Carlos Hernandez, before stopping Leavander Johnson, on that terrible night to win a version of the 135-lb championship; he’s in formidable form.)

 

The Chavez win made Erik a three-weight champion.

Another win over Jesus could make him a champion of four divisions, and earn Erik a place in the Mexican history books. Had he felt up to it, it would’ve been a fine reward for a 48-4 career (18-2 in world title fights) that includes wins over Hall of Fame worthies Barrera, Pacquiao, Junior Jones, Daniel Zaragoza and Paulie Ayala.

 

Never mind.

 

Marco’s counter punching abilities, against the bull-like Chavez, could result in something really special. Indeed, it can be read as a clever little ruse: by gunning for his own fourth title, he’s robbing Manny – the man who thrashed him – the chance of doing the same.

 

Of recent, Barrera’s looked like a chess master of the ring. Maybe the super featherweight king is the same outside the ropes.

Boxing Notes - CHANGE OF OPPONENT FOR JOHNSON

A change of opponent is in store for former light heavyweight champion, Glen Johnson (43-10-2, 29 KOs) for his outing at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena, Florida. Standing in for original foe Richard Hall, for his February 24th date is a familiar face, Maxboxing report. That man, Brooklyn’s Daniel Judah, held Glen to a ridiculous 10 round draw back in 2003, so Glen won’t lose concentration while waiting for a June crack at IBF light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods.

Zab’s younger brother even conceded defeat for the fight that saw both men walk away with a mere $5000. But there’s only one way for Johnson to settle the scores. He’s on friendly turf this time (Johnson is based in Miami), but I have a feeling that Glen will come out fiercely against the southpaw.

And should he meet and beat old foe Woods (D12, W12), Johnson would like to fight Warrior’s Boxing stablemate O’Neil Bell. Also of Jamaican blood, Bell (26-1-1, 24 KOs) said he’s up for it a meeting between (potential) 175 and 200-lb champs. But he must fit it between swelling mandatory commitments to the WBA, WBC and the IBF’s top contenders. No only would it promise to be a compelling fight, the pairing would mark a welcome attempt to target a Jamaican fan base.

Since South Florida has the largest Jamaican population outside of the home country, it’d be a refreshing attempt to reach out. Given the lack of fanfare met by past greats like Mike McCallum and Simon Brown, it’s no surprise that Bell and Johnson have strived for a $1m+ payday. That figure might not be possible for men fighting in the underrated light heavy and cruiser divisions, but it’d be fitting if they got their career best paychecks together.