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Erik Morales vs. Zahir Raheem

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Double Trouble
DateSeptember 10, 2005
VenueStaples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Title(s) on the linevacant WBC International lightweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Erik Morales Zahir Raheem
Nickname "El Terrible"
("The Terrible")
"King Raheem"
Hometown Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Pre-fight record 48–2 (34 KO) 26–1 (16 KO)
Age 29 years 28 years, 10 months
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 134+12 lb (61 kg) 133 lb (60 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC/WBA
No. 1 Ranked Super Featherweight
The Ring
No. 2 Ranked Super Featherweight
The Ring No. 4 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
3-division world champion
WBC
No. 6 Ranked Super Featherweight
WBA
No. 10 Ranked Super Featherweight
Result
Raheem defeats Morales by unanimous decision

Erik Morales vs. Zahir Raheem, billed as Double Trouble, was a professional boxing match contested on September 10, 2005.[1]

Background

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After their exciting bout in March 2005, Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao were co-featured on a card at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, what what was regarded as tune-up bouts before an inevitable rematch. Pacquiao was to face Héctor Velázquez at super featherweight while Erik Morales would make his debut at lightweight against Zahir Raheem.[2][3][4]

The fights

[edit]

Pacquiao vs. Velázquez

[edit]
Double Trouble: Manny Pacquiao vs. Héctor Velázquez
2-0px
Title(s) on the linevacant WBC International super featherweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Manny Pacquiao Héctor Velázquez
Nickname "Pac-Man" "Charro Negro"
("Black Charro")
Hometown General Santos, Soccsksargen, Philippines Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Purse $750,000
Pre-fight record 39–3–2 (32 KO) 48–3 (34 KO)
Age 26 years, 8 months 30 years, 6 months
Height 5 ft 6+12 in (169 cm) 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight 130 lb (59 kg) 130 lb (59 kg)
Style Southpaw Orthodox
Recognition WBC/The Ring
No. 3 Ranked Super Featherweight
IBF
No. 4 Ranked Super Featherweight
The Ring No. 5 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
3-division world champion
WBC
No. 12 Ranked Featherweight
Result
Pacquiao wins via 6th-round TKO[5]

Velázquez gave Pacquiao a hard time in the first two rounds of their bout before getting caught by Pacquiao's superior speed and power getting stopped in the sixth round.[6]

Aftermath

[edit]

Velázquez later on fought Pacquiao's brother, Bobby, and won via disqualification.[7]

Preceded by Manny Pacquiao's bouts
10 September 2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by
vs. Trinidad Mendoza
Héctor Velázquez's bouts
10 September 2005
Succeeded by
vs. Adan Amador

Morales vs. Raheem

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In the main event, former 3-division champion Erik Morales faced 1996 Olympian Zahir Raheem[8]

Morales was a heavy favourite and the matchup was viewed as warmup for his already scheduled rematch against Manny Pacquiao. However, Raheem would frustrate Morales with constant lateral movement. Raheem rocked Morales in the 5th round and built a lead on the scorecards, but Morales rallied in the 11th round and staggered him with a right hand as Raheem's glove touched the canvas, but it was not scored a knockdown by referee Jon Schorle.[9]

The final scores were 118–110, 116–112 and 115–112 in favor of Raheem giving him an unanimous decision victory.[10]

HBO's unofficial scorer, Harold Lederman, scored the bout 118–110 for Raheem, the same score as his daughter Julie Lederman one of the three official judges.

According to CompuBox Raheem landed 111 out of 282 punches (39%) against Morales landing only 62 out of 353 (18%).

Aftermath

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Speaking after the bout Raheem said "I beat a legend tonight, I made all the sacrifices coming into this fight, I believed in myself and I fought a smart fight. All I needed was a chance to prove myself. None of the elite fighters ever gave me a shot, before Morales stepped up. Now the sky's the limit."

When asked if fighting at lightweight was perhaps too heavy for him, Morales replied: "I did feel a little out of whack but I have to look at the tape before I decide to go back down [to 130 pounds]."

Undercard

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Confirmed bouts:[11]

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
 United States HBO

References

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  1. ^ "Manny Pacquiao vs. Hector Velazquez". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Rafael: PacMan at peace". ESPN.com. August 31, 2005.
  3. ^ "PACQUIAO, VELASQUEZ FACE TO FACE!". philboxing.com.
  4. ^ "Pacquiao signs deal with new US promoter". philstar.com.
  5. ^ "Velazquez TKO kay Pacquiao sa 6th round". philstar.com.
  6. ^ Martinez, Sergio. "Round by Round: Manny Pacquiao vs. Hector Velazquez – Boxing News".
  7. ^ "Former Pacquiao opponent Hector Velazquez turns his attention to Michael Farenas". GMA News Online.
  8. ^ "Erik Morales vs. Zahir Raheem". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  9. ^ Salazar, Francisco and Gonzales, Ralph (September 2005). Raheem outslicks Morales! Pac-man brutalizes Velazquez! Archived February 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Newmexicoboxing.com. Retrieved on August 24, 2012.
  10. ^ Doug Fischer (6 September 2005). "Morales is dealt a shocking upset". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  11. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Erik Morales's bouts
10 September 2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Zahir Raheem's bouts
10 September 2005
Succeeded by
Awards
Preceded by The Ring Upset of the Year
2005
Succeeded by