Morales battles Meraz Saturday in Clackamas, Oregon
By Ricardo Ibarra
Looking to shine in front of a hometown crowd, undefeated Jr. lightweight prospect Victor Morales, Jr. (11-0, 7 KOs) will fight his twelfth professional bout just twenty miles south of his home of Vancouver, Washington this Saturday night. Heading up Pure Combat's mixed combat sports event at the Clackamas Armory in Clackamas, Oregon, Morales will face Mexico's German Meraz (62-57-2, 39 KOs), taking on the battle tested journeyman in the card's eight round main event.
The crafty twenty-one-year old Morales was a decorated amateur for the region and competed internationally for the US, claiming a gold medal at the Rudy Zapata Cup in the Dominican Republic in 2014. Since turning pro in August of 2016, he's stacked eleven straight wins and has been on an impressive run over his last few fights, scoring five consecutive wins inside the distance. Most recently, he turned in a blistering performance against tough banger Marcelo Gallardo, stopping him in the seventh round this past April.
This may be the last opportunity Northwest fight fans have to see Morales compete locally for some time. He recently signed a promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions and that may have him fighting outside the region for much of the foreseeable future.
"It's always been my dream, to sign with Golden Boy and Oscar Delahoya," said Morales. "Growing up, that's who I wanted to be like and that's who I wanted to work with, and to be able to do that now is amazing. I’m excited for the future that we'll have working together."
"This will be my last fight close to home for a while. From now on I'll probably be fighting mostly in California, on whichever platform they decide, but it looks like I’ll be turning around and fighting again in October, at the very latest November…This will be the last time I fight at home for now. I'm excited to fight here in Portland one last time...I’m ready to go after bigger fights."
With 122 bouts accumulated over a fourteen-year career, Meraz will represent the most experienced adversary to date for the young Morales. The thirty-three-year old, from Agua Prieta, Sonora, has served as a durable opponent for many young fighters ascending the boxing ladder in recent years, including current WBA 130 lbs. world champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis early in his career, whom Meraz lost to via six round unanimous decision in 2014.
"I know that his style is to take the least amount of damage so that he can turn around and fight again," said Morales of his opponent. "I've watched a lot of tape on him and what these guys are doing against him. I've got a completely different game plan than what guys are usually using on him. I think I can stop him…Tank couldn't stop him, but I think I have what it takes to stop him and I'm going to go out and show that early."
Meraz is currently on a four-fight losing run, though all of those losses have come by decision. He last fought on July 12th, losing to former world title challenger Eric Hunter by unanimous technical decision after an accidental headbutt opened up a cut on Meraz in the fifth round and forced the fight to go to the scorecards.
Morales and Meraz will face off in an eight-round contest in the Jr. lightweight division. Twelve additional bouts of varying disciplines will fill out the card, with 2 other pro boxing matchups scheduled.
In the semi-main event, unbeaten Tacoma welterweight Nicholas Jefferson (9-0, 5 KOs) will look to add his tenth straight win, squaring off with Chad McKinney (2-10, 1 KO) in a six round contest. Jefferson, a pupil of former USA Olympic team head coach Tom Mustin, was a stand-out Northwest amateur, and competed internationally for team USA, claiming a bronze medal in 2013 at the World Combat Games in Russia. As a pro, the rangy boxer has looked sharp defeating regional opponents. He last fought in April, taking a clear-cut decision win over Sean Gee. McKinney will be looking for his first win in three fights. In his last outing, he was defeated by Darious Harris via unanimous decision on July 7th.
Local fan favorite Lorenzo Caldera (1-0, 1 KO) will take on Phillip Schwartz (0-1) in a four round lightweight tilt, rounding out the remainder of the pro boxing portion of the line-up. A scheduled fight between Cris Reyes and Marco Cardenas was scrapped due to an injury suffered by Cardenas.
The rest of the roster will feature competitions in amateur boxing, both pro and amateur mixed martial arts, and kickboxing. Doors to the Clackamas Armory will open at 4 p.m. with amateur boxing kicking off the event at 5 p.m. For ticket info, visit Pure Combat’s Facebook page.
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Battle of the Undefeated - Reyes to face KO specialist at Battle at the Boat 123
Cris Reyes predicted a victory via third-round knockout in his last fight.
His forecast failed to come true as he needed less than 2 minutes to put away his opponent.
The hard-hitting welterweight's prediction was about the only thing that was off during Reyes' main event debut in June because he looked about as impressive as ever in keeping his perfect record intact.
His dominating win over Lennard Davis, who entered the June 1 contest with just one defeat in 11 professional fights, at Battle at the Boat 121 turned out to be Reyes' last bout as a teenager. He turned 20 just 18 days following the win.
As impressive as Reyes' teen years were as a boxer, which were highlighted by a 2015 National PAL championship, a 2015 Junior National Golden Gloves runner-up and a pair of seconds at the Ringside World Championships, it's easy to see why many believe his 20s are going to be far more rewarding.
Reyes will take his next step towards super stardom on Saturday, Sept. 7 when he squares off against fellow undefeated fighter Manuel Monteiro at Battle at the Boat 123 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash.
Both boxers will bring perfect 7-0 records into the 5-round contest with Reyes winning his last six fights by KO and Monteiro registering knockouts in every one of his appearances.
The six-bout card will also see cruiserweight Marquice Weston (15-1-1, 8 KOs) meet Joe Jones (11-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round main event.
Tickets are available through the EQC box office and all Ticketmaster Outlets. Preliminary bouts will start at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Just two years removed from high school, Reyes has looked razor sharp in 2019. In addition to his first-round KO of Davis, he also notched a victory by TKO over Abdul Kamara on March 3. Those wins came following a knockout of highly-regarded William Parra Smith on Oct. 27, 2018.
"Training camp has been good," said Francisco Reyes, Cris's older brother and trainer. "(Cris has been) able to spar with elite boxers which has helped Cris get to that next level.
A native of Renton, Wash., Reyes was scheduled to fight in his first 10-round bout his last time out, but needed just 1:43 as he ended the contest with a devastating right.
Francisco Reyes' expects more of the same against Monteiro.
"On September 7 (Cris will) show that once again," Francisco Reyes said about Cris's knockout power. "I was impressed by his power (in his last fight). I know he has power, but I think that every fight it gets better and better. We know Manuel brings an undefeated record with all his fight by KO, but we’re ready for that. Cris can box and he can stay in front of you and go at it. Our plan is to go in there and win. Regardless of what that takes. Cris is young and really hungry. I know he’ll come out on top. I predict a victory."
In addition to the Reyes/Monteiro fight and the cruiserweight main event, Battle at the Boat 123 will also feature undercard bouts between undefeated heavyweights Nick Mills and Jon Jackson and a welterweight fight between Willie Gomez and Hamilton Ash.
Battle at the Boat 123 is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions. For more information, please visit www.halquistproductions.comand the Battle at the Boat Facebook page.
Battle at the Boat 123 Card
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019
10 Round Main Event – Cruiserweights
Marquice Weston (15-1-1) vs. Joe Jones (11-1)
5 Round Semi-Main Event
140 pounds: Cris Reyes (7-0) vs. Manuel Monteiro (7-0)
5 Round Bout
143 pounds: Kevin Davila (3-8-2) vs. Andres Abarca (1-2)
4 Round Undercard Bouts
Heavyweight: Nick Mills (1-0) vs. Jon Jackson (3-0)
200 pounds: Sua Tuani (debut) vs. Nick Coughran (0-1)
144 pounds: Willie Gomez (1-0) vs. Hamilton Ash (0-3)
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