LAS VEGAS, NV - Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales retained his WBC title and took Carlos Hernandez's IBF belt in a super featherweight unification bout on Saturday in front of 8,611 at the MGM Grand Casino.
A three-time WBC champion, Morales was awarded a unanimous decision. Two judges scored the bout 119-110 and the third judge tallied a closer scored of 115-113.
"I knew it was going to be a complicated fight," Morales said. "I really admire the effort on behalf of Carlos."
Morales, 47-1 (34 KOs) fought with a cut above his left eye for the majority of the fight, however the gash would not deter the Mexican warrior from recording his 18th championship fight victory.
Morales circled Hernandez, connecting with jabs making sure to take advantage of a two inch height and five inch reach advantage. Morales landed punches to the head and body from a distance, as Hernandez attempted to avoid punches by ducking to the inside. However this strategy would not work, as Morales would counter well on the inside as well, landing crisp right uppercuts, eliminating Hernandez's charge.
Though neither fighter recorded a knockdown, Morales surprisingly almost dropped Hernandez with a left jab in the ninth round. The impact rocked Hernandez backwards, but the former champ quickly regained his balance to continue forward once again.
Hernandez, 40-4-1 (24 KOs) fought bravely, landing a shot above Morales' right eye in the 11th that caused some minor swelling. His effort earned the pro Mexican crowds’ respect and adulation.
Despite Hernandez' courage, it was the ninth round where Morales began to take full control of the fight.
"I hope to prove that I have a big heart and I can hang in with anyone. I don't go down," Hernandez said. "I'm sad because I lost, but I'm proud because of the way I fought. I gave 110 percent tonight."
Morales, who now owns the WBC and IBF Super Featherweight titles, agreed with Hernandez’s declaration.
"Carlos is a gentleman inside the ring and out. He has a big heart inside the ring as well. I knew that he was the type of fighter who comes forward."
After the fight, Morales stated he had plans on fighting two more times in the 130 pound-division before entertaining offers to fight at 135.
The 27-year-old Morales from Tijuana, Mexico, had taken the 130-pound WBC championship with a unanimous decision over Jesus Chavez on Feb. 28. Morales' only loss was by split decision against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2002. He won a split decision over Barrera two years earlier.
The Morales-Hernandez Pay Per View event generated 140,000-150,000 pay per view buys, making it the 2nd-highest PPV performance for a Morales fight behind only the 300,000 buys generated for the June 2002 Morales-Barrera II fight and 20% ahead of Morales-Ayala.
Undercard Results
Rafael Marquez retained his IBF bantamweight title with a one-punch knockout of Heriberto Ruiz in the third round of their scheduled 12 rounder.
Marquez, who improved to 32-3 (29 KOs), countered Ruiz with a picture perfect right uppercut after the challenger landed a left hook to his midsection.
Ruiz, who dropped to 31-3-2 (14 KOs), was knocked out immediately by the punch and fell forward to the canvas where referee Tony Weeks immediately waved off the contest at 2:11 of the round.
The fight began very cautiously with relatively no action, but then Marquez landed the devastating uppercut to Ruiz's head. Ruiz was out immediately and the fight ended at 2:11 of the third round. Marquez improves to 32-3 (29 KOs) and further solidifies his claim as the best of the bantamweight division.
"I didn't expect this knockout," said Marquez, who improves to 32-3, 29 KO's. "I know I will need to prepare myself better for my next fight. It does not matter who the next possible opponent is."
Ivan Calderon retained his WBO 105-pound title with a unanimous decision over former titleholder Roberto Leyva of Mexico. Puerto Rico's Calderon, who improved to 20-0 (4 KOs), won by official scores of 116-112 on three scorecards, but the pro Mexican crowd vehemently booed the decision.
The bout began with Calderon using his southpaw stance to stick and move and in doing so, won the first two rounds with accurate punching, footwork and defense. However the following rounds saw Calderon attempt an attack to the Leyva's body, leaving openings for the challenger, who managed to connect with effective hard shots.
In the sixth round, Calderon returned to his stick and move style and controlled the distance and tempo of the fight until the final round.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., son of the great three-division Mexican champion, improved to 10-0 (5 KOs) with a unanimous four-round decision over an outclassed Jason Smith. Chavez, who won by scores of 40-36 on all three judges scorecards, bloodied the mouth and nose of Smith.
After the fight Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. said he hoped to fight four more times this year.
"I have no amateur experience," said Chavez. "I have to take my time with each fight. I am still learning and there are lots of improvements to do in all facets of my fight game.
The youngster showed some his father's skills and apparently is not affected by the pressure to perform like his father.
"I want to be greater than my father," Chavez said. "But the last name and who I am, it really makes it a lot easier to introduce me to the fans. I want to be the WBC champion. This is my reason to fight."
Morales, who now owns the WBC and IBF Super Featherweight titles, agreed with Hernandez’s declaration.