Maidana Survives Morales Rally for Majority Decision

LAS VEGA, NEVADA — A rally in the last two rounds was just enough to allow an under siege Marcos Maidana to escape Las Vegas with a close majority decision over an inspired Erik Morales.

Early on, it appeared Morales would be too worn and weak for the younger Maidana, who need only 30 seconds to begin closing Morales’ right eye with left hooks. Throughout the first four rounds, Morales was being visibly moved any time Maidana connected. Going into the fifth, Morales right eye was completely closed and a cut was visible above his left.

Instead of capitulating, this is when Morales turned the tide. The Tijuana native began firing back with combinations to the shocked surprise of Maidana. The younger fighter was particularly bothered by Morales’ uppercuts.

By the sixth,  Morales had completely taken over the fight. He picked his spots and nullified Maidana’s wild offense by rolling with the punches. Because Maidana slowed down, Morales had a much easier time with this strategy than in the early rounds. The seventh featured Morales jabbing Maidana to the ropes with hard left jabs and briefly staggering him with a perfect left hook.

Morales sensed a possible stoppage and pushed Maidana to his limits in the 10th. He ripped his younger foe with uppercuts. In all of the exchanges, it was Morales who was the harder puncher. The fury caused Maidana to assume Morales’ early fight posture of holding and covering up.

Maidana’s second wind came in the 11th and 12th rounds. While not landing many clean punches, he clearly outworked Morales and used clinches for strategic breathers. Morales couldn’t land his earlier offense and appeared himself to be winded after dominating so many rounds. The pro-Morales crowd did their best to push their man, but it was Maidana who threw a succession of hard right hands to close out the fight.

In the end, Maidana’s late rally would be the difference, giving him the majority win with scores of 114-114 and 116-112 twice. The defeat did little to diminish Morales’ standing with the crowd or Maidana himself; both heaped praise on the Mexican legend for proving naysayers wrong about his current ability.

“It surprised me that he was able to take those punches. He was very difficult to knock out,” Maidana reflected. “In order to knock him out, you need a stick or a hammer or something. I like when fighters stand in front of me and are brave. Morales is a good fighter and a strong fighter. He can continue his career because he’ll do well.”

Morales was more reticent in his evaluation of Maidana, stating the close win was not a “clear” victory.

“I think he [Maidana] may have won a close fight, but not a clean win,” he said. “I think that I won the fight because I landed the better punches. [I thought I could beat him] because I have a lot of speed. I also have dignity and heart. I want a rematch. I thought I won. I’m better than him. I finished the fight with my heart. Long live Mexico!”

Robert Guerrero became the #1 contender at lightweight with a very entertaining fight against Michael Katsidis. Guerrero could never deter Katsidis’ will despite teeing off and lacerating him with straight lefts throughout the fight. The referee did Katsidis no favor either; he missed an early flash knockdown, and deducted two points very quickly in the mid-rounds for low blows. Guerrero would also lose a point late for a low blow, but had built such a lead that it was inconsequential. Final scorecards read 117-108, 118-106 and 118-107 all for Guerrero.

“I’m a warrior. Sometimes you have to beat the guy at his own game,” Guerrero explained. “I got in there and I worked my jabs and punches. I was never hurt in the fight. One of the main things [I did] was keep the speed up and fire off shots… He [Katsidis] is the toughest guy I’ve ever fought.”