Erik Morales, the Mexican boxing legend, has picked Junior Jones as the best opponent he ever faced. This surprising choice comes despite Morales' famous battles with Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Marcos Maidana.
Morales, known as "El Terrible," made history as the first Mexican fighter to win world titles in four different weight classes. His career included some of boxing's most memorable rivalries, including three fights each with Pacquiao and Barrera.
In a recent interview, Morales shared his thoughts on his toughest opponent:
"Junior Jones – This is a tough question. I faced a lot of good boxers in my career, but I think Jones might be the best. He had very good technique. He threw straight, accurate punches. He could punch too. He hurt me in our fight."
The fight Morales refers to took place in September 1998. Morales stopped Jones in four rounds, successfully defending his WBC super-bantamweight title for the fourth time. Despite the quick finish, Jones left a lasting impression on the Mexican champion.
Jones, who finished his career with a 56-6 record, was a two-weight world champion. He made a name for himself by defeating Marco Antonio Barrera twice in 1996 and 1997, capturing and defending the WBO super-bantamweight title in the process.
Morales' choice of Jones over more famous names like Pacquiao and Barrera speaks volumes about Jones' skills. The American fighter's straight and accurate punches, combined with his punching power, seemed to have troubled Morales more than his other opponents.
Morales' career included three fights each against both Pacquiao and Barrera, creating some of boxing's most memorable trilogies. His ability to compete at the highest level across multiple weight classes cemented his place among boxing's elite.
While Morales faced many great fighters, including Marcos Maidana who nearly defeated Floyd Mayweather, his choice of Jones as his best opponent shows that sometimes it's not the most famous fights that leave the biggest impact on a boxer. Jones' technique and power left a lasting impression on one of Mexico's greatest boxing champions.
