Can THE RING junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia repeat his victory over Mexican legend Erik Morales on Saturday?
Bob Arum said Julio Cesar Chavez could fight Brian Vera next, and eventually, Andre Ward.
Who wins Garcia-Morales II? The experts weigh in
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BROOKLYN -- Four-division titleholder Erik Morales vows for a different result in Saturday night's Showtime-televised rematch with Danny Garcia at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., having blamed his loss to Garcia in March on gall bladder surgery that he endured last December. But Garcia (24-0, 15 knockouts) has taken issue with the assertions of Morales (52-8, 36 KOs), whom he dropped in the 11th-round of a unanimous decision victory which earned the WBC belt. Garcia followed that up with a fourth-round knockout of Amir Khan in July, which added the RING and WBA belts to his repertoire. As a result of the surgery, Morales, 36, withdrew from his originally scheduled match up with Garcia that was slated for Jan. 28, and he came in overweight for their clash at 142 pounds. Prior to the loss to Garcia, 24, Morales became Mexico's first fighter to win four belts over as many different weight classes with last September's 10th-round TKO over the previously unbeaten Pablo Cesar Cano. The question for the aging Morales is wheather he can recapture the glory he once had, resulting from his winning one of three bouts in separate trilogies with eight-division title-winner Manny Pacquiao and three-division title-winner Marco Antonio Barrera. The challenge is to quell the momentum of a surging Garcia, who is after his fifth straight triumph over a current or former world titleholder following consecutive decisions over ex-beltholders Nate Campbell and Kendall Holt in April and October of last year, respectively. Will youth triumph over experience or vice versa? RingTV.com polled several insiders for that answer.
Danny Garcia UD 12 Erik Morales: Danny Garcia does all of the things an aged Erik Morales doesn't want him to do. He's fast, a bit rangy and doesn't barrel in headfirst. Record: 5-1
Norm Frauenheim, www.15rounds.com
Danny Garcia TKO Erik Morales: Smarts and tactical proficiency won’t offset Erik Morales’ bad timing, which isn’t altogether his fault. Morales exercised a rematch clause, but the guess here is that he’ll wish he hadn’t. Record: 16-6
Danny Garcia W 12 Erik Morales: All of the stars must line up perfectly for the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer to reverse the result. Erik Morales has to make the weight, be in better shape and hope that his still-effective jab can open up Danny Garcia's scar tissue. Record: 6-5
Robert Guerrero, five-belt, three-division titlewinner
Danny Garcia late KO Erik Morales: Danny Garcia showed he's got what it takes to fight at the championship, and I don't see anything different in this rematch. Record: 12-6
Keith Idec, The Record/BoxingScene.com Danny Garcia UD 12 Erik Morales: I can't see this fight playing out much different from their first fight. It'll be reasonably competitive early, but Danny Garcia will wear down the aged legend, Erik Morales, and comfortably win another decision in what should be a television-friendly fight. Record: 8-6
Rich Marotta, KFI Radio, Los Angeles
Danny Garcia TKO 10 Erik Morales: Erik Morales is one of my favorite fighters over the past 15 years. What he has given to the sport in excitement and guts cannot really be measured. Record: 8-3
Jack Obermayer, Fight Fax Inc. Danny Garcia W 12 Erik Morales: I don't see Erik Morales getting any better, while Danny Garcia is a confident young man about now. Nice enough to return the favor of a title shot, Garcia may very well just ease up on his way to a points win. Record: 8-4
Danny Garcia TKO 9 Erik Morales: Danny Garcia appears to be one of those unbeaten fighters who just gets better with every challenge and outing. Record: 6-2
Chris Robinson, The Examiner.com/BoxingScene.com Danny Garcia W 12 Erik Morales: I like Danny Garcia to outbox Erik Morales for a decision win. Garcia has championship experience under his belt now and he has shown himself to be improving fight by fight. I like him to beat Morales a little bit easier than the first time around. Record: 13-3
Danny Garcia W 12 Erik Morales: One could make a case for a late stoppage here, but it's hard to see Erik Morales staying down against Danny Garcia. Record: 15-7
Michael Rosenthal, Editor of THE RING Erik Morales W 12 Danny Garcia: I think Erik Morales knows exactly how to beat Danny Garcia in their rematch. The question is whether his body, clearly worn down by so many wars, will cooperate. I suspect it will. Morales, who in his prime was a far better fighter than Garcia, probably took the younger fighter for granted the first time around because of his limited boxing ability. That won't the case this time. Morales will be ready and win a clear decision. Record: 17-3
John Scully, trainer of RING and WBC lightheavyweight champion Chad Dawson Danny Garcia KO Erik Morales: I have a very confident Danny Garcia pushing the envelope much more this time against Erik Morales. He'll probably run into a few good counters on the way to a late round corner stoppage. Record: 6-2
Danny Garcia UD 12 Erik Morales: Erik Morales will be tough as always, and his guile will keep him competitive. But youth is a tough thing to overcome, and Danny Garcia has that. Record: 14-5
Danny Garcia KO 8 Erik Morales: Danny Garcia has got it all over Erik Morales at this stage of Erik Morales' career. He's got superior power, quickness and, at this moment, boxing skills and the will to win. Record: 9-3
By an overwhelming, 13-1, the experts favor Danny Garcia to be victorious, yet again, over Erik Morales, and, perhaps in more dominant fashion than before.
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Photo by Bob Levey, Getty Images Photo by Chris Hutty, Hogan Photos, Golden Boy Promotions Photo by Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com
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