Morales a consul for RP in Tijuana?

Legendary three-time world boxing champion Erik Morales could become a consul for the Philippines in his Tijuana hometown.

That’s the word from Morales’ close Filipino friend Hermie Esguerra who told The STAR yesterday he broached the idea to Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Lagdameo.

Morales, who considers the Philippines a second home after two visits here this year to film TV commercials, said it would be an honor to be a consul for his adopted country.

Morales invited Esguerra to watch his fight against David Diaz in Rosemont, Illinois, last weekend as a special guest. He then welcomed Esguerra to his San Diego home.

Esguerra phoned long distance from Rosalito, a town next to Tijuana in Baja, California, yesterday and put Morales on the line. They crossed the border to eat at Morales’ favorite seafood restaurant.

I spoke my best Spanish – which still wasn’t good enough – in conversing with Morales who accommodated me by speaking in halting but very passable English. He only spoke in Spanish when the English words wouldn’t come out right.

“I think the people know who really won the fight,” said Morales. “It was a hard fight against a tough fighter. I tried to do my best and give the fans a good fight but the referee (Benjie Esteves Jr.) allowed Diaz to do what he wanted to do in the ring. Diaz used his elbows, shoulders – everything – and it was not fair.”

In the post-fight press conference, Diaz said he had nothing to apologize for and justified his “dirty” tricks because “this wasn’t a chess match.”

Morales’ father Jose accused Diaz of deliberately resorting to underhanded tactics, insinuating Esteves was on his side. He said his son would’ve won if not for the questionable officiating as “Diaz got away with a lot of illegal tactics and if the fight wasn’t in Chicago, Esteves would have done more to stop him.” Morales’ father is his trainer and worked his corner during the fight for the WBC lightweight crown. 

 If Morales won, he would’ve become the first Mexican to capture four world crowns.

Diaz, fighting before a hometown crowd, used elbows, forearms, headbutts and bullying tactics to gain the nod of the three judges who obviously, gave more credit to aggressiveness than accuracy. A volume puncher, Diaz rained blows from all angles but Morales, a technician, did a masterful job of parrying and dodging the bombs. Morales counterpunched and landed the cleaner shots but the judges were swayed by Diaz’ relentlessness.

When Diaz said he came to fight and didn’t care to please the fans, Morales told him off. El Terrible tried to prick Diaz’ conscience by reminding him of his shenanigans. Diaz, however, was unrepentant and tried to goad Morales into a verbal tussle.

Morales refused to engage Diaz in a word war. 

By not stooping down to Diaz’ level, Morales showed his class. He didn’t question the verdict, he only pointed out Diaz’ tricks that were tolerated by Esteves to his disadvantage. It was almost as if Morales gave a free lesson to Diaz on how to conduct himself as world champion.

On the phone, Morales said fans are urging him to face Diaz in a rematch. But he ruled out an extension of his remarkable career. “I’m tired and I want to rest,” he said. “I’ve fought a lot of good fights and I hope the fans appreciate what I did in the ring. My wife (Andrea) is pregnant with our second child and she’s expecting to give birth in the first week of November. I’m excited about that and I want to spend a lot of time with her and our family. But I won’t leave boxing completely. I manage 10 very good fighters so they’ll keep me busy.”

Morales’ decision to retire came in the wake of the controversial loss to Diaz. Before the bout, he announced he would hang up his gloves if he lost. He would’ve fought once more, in Tijuana, if he won.

Morales said if he’s not able to visit Manila for the WBC convention late this year to attend to his wife’s delivery, he’d like to take a trip early next year.

“I have so many Filipino friends and I enjoy the Philippines because I feel at home with Filipinos,” he said.