26 years ago
Erik Morales vs Angel Chacon
Date: 13th February 1999
Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Title: WBC World Super-bantamweight Title
Promoter: Top Rank
Referee: Richard Steele
Tv: HBO Sports
Erik Morales
(
31
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 121½ lbs
Angel Chacon
(
24
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 122 lbs
On February 13, 1999, the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, played host to Erik Morales defending his WBC World Super-bantamweight title for the fifth time against Angel Chacon, a 27-year-old southpaw from Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. Morales, then undefeated with a record of 31-0-0, was looking to continue his dominance in the division. With a respectable record of 24-2-0, Chacon aimed to upset the champion and claim the title for himself.
Morales vs. Chacon was co-headline on a Top Rank bill that also included Oscar De La Hoya's meeting with Ghanian Ike Quartey, Oba Carr vs Frankie Randall, and heavyweight Eric Esch, better known as Butterbean, in a four-round heavyweight bout.
The fight was broadcast on HBO Sports, drawing significant attention from boxing fans worldwide. Morales, known for his aggressive style and formidable punching power, was favoured to win. Chacon, however, was not to be underestimated. He had built a strong reputation with his speed of hand and foot as well as his sometimes underestimated defensive skills. The stage was set for an intriguing contest between two skilled fighters.
In the end, Morales' power proved too much for Chacon. The fight was stopped in the second round when Morales delivered a devastating knockout at 1:50, sending Chacon crashing through the ropes. This victory marked another successful title defence for Morales, solidifying his position as one of the top super-bantamweights in the world. The knockout was a testament to Morales' ability to finish fights with authority, a trait that would become a hallmark of his career.
Morales' performance against Chacon was part of a remarkable run that saw him become a four-weight world champion. His career would go on to include notable victories over fighters like Daniel Zaragoza, Junior Jones, and Manny Pacquiao. Morales' rivalry with Marco Antonio Barrera, another Mexican boxing legend, would also become legendary, with their trilogy of fights being remembered as some of the greatest in boxing history.