Erik Morales gets Marcos Maidana
It’s been a rough few years for the last man to beat Manny Pacquiao.
Former featherweight, super bantamweight world champion Erik Morales (51-6, 35 KOs) will make his latest attempt at a return to the limelight in a 12-round matchup with hard-hitting Marcos Maidana (29-7, 27 KOs) on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Although Morales has won is last three bouts, including a unanimous-decision victory against Francisco Lorenzo last December, he hasn’t beaten a quality opponent since his win over Pacquiao in 2005.
"Why shouldn't I come back? I didn't deserve to go out like I did,” said Morales, 34. “I have goals to reach. With hard work and dedication, I know I will reach them.”
As for Maidana, who suffered a unanimous-decision loss to WBA 140-pound champion Amir Khan, he’s hoping to find some redemption, too.
"I'm proud to be here facing Erik Morales,” Maidana said. “Beating a legend like him would help me build myself up to where I want to be.”
The HBO pay-per-view bout will begin at 9 p.m.
Winky Wright will take on Matthew Macklin in the first televised match.