What a fight - for a fight that was supposed to be a mismatch and had boxing experts predicting a quick knockout for Maidana - It turned out to be a fight of the year candidate. Erik Morales demonstrated a true warrior spirit. And with the handicap of fighting with one eye the whole match. - Maidana punished Morales in round one, causing “El Terrible’s” right eye to swell shut. Morales landed some shots in round two, but Maidana still dominated the round. Morales slowly started working his way back into the fight, however, and clearly won round five. Morales rocked Maidana with a left hook in round eight. The fight seemed close entering the championship rounds. Maidana was much busier in rounds eleven and twelve and pulled it out by scores of 114-114, 116-112, 116-112.

• Other Boxing Result - Saturday 9 April, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Light welterweight - Marcos Rene Maidana def Erik Morales on MD 12 / 12 - Interim WBA World light welterweight title (supervisor: Michael Welsh)

Lightweight - Robert Guerrero def Michael Katsidis on UD 12 / 12 - Interim WBA World lightweight title (supervisor: Michael Welsh) - Interim WBO lightweight title (supervisor: Richard De Cuir)

Welterweight - Paul Malignaggi def Jose Miguel Cotto by UD 10 / 10

Light welterweight - Danny Garcia def Nate Campbell on UD 10 / 10

Middleweight - Nobuhiro Ishida def James Kirkland by TKO 1 / 8

Marcos Maidana: “I am very happy to have won the [WBA interim super lightweight] title. We knew that Erik Morales was a great warrior and he was going to give a great fight. I never thought it was going to be an easy fight. I was expecting a war and that is exactly what happened. I was staying positive and trying to catch him with the counter. I was never tired. I would like the rematch, but there are other fighters in the division I would want to fight as well. It surprised me that he was able to take those punches. He was very difficult to knock out. 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. I really did find this [fight] close, but I came out as the winner at the end.”

Erik Morales: “I want to acknowledge everyone who came to see this fight. I’m a good fighter. I fight for the people of Tijuana. I think he [Maidana] may have won a close fight, but not a clean win. 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 have 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. Viva Mexico!”

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