Erik Morales believes Angel Fierro can upset Alberto Machado

Legendary boxer Erik Morales trains Angel Fierro, who goes into a big boxing match with Alberto Machado on Thursday, March 18. 

Erik Morales knows a thing or two about boxing, and he has faith in his young charge, Angel Fierro, to pull the upset over Alberto Macado on Thursday, March 18, in the Ring City USA main event.

Morales (52-9, 36 KOs) retired from boxing in 2012 after a storied career. During his time in the ring, Morales won world titles in four different divisions. He won his first championship in 1997, defeating Daniel Zaragoza by knockout in round 11 for the WBC super bantamweight belt.

Morales scored victories over Marco Antonio, Barrera, Kevin Kelley, Paulie Ayala, and Manny Pacquiao over a 19-year professional career. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2018. Today, Morales is training fighters in Mexico, including Jaime Munguia and Fierro.

Fierro (17-1-1, 13 KOs) is only 22 years old but has 19 fights to his credit. His record isn’t unblemished, but he has proven punching power with 13 KOs. He’s stepping in to fight Machado as a late replacement for Hector Tanajara.

Fierro is 3-1 in his last four fights. He dropped a majority decision to Alex Martin in January of 2019 but followed that performance with a knockout victory over Alexis Reyes in October. Machado is a giant step up in competition for Fierro.

Fierro has help, though, in the form of Morales as his trainer. The two have worked together during Fierro’s last several fights.

Erik Morales has a good feeling about Angel Fierro’s chances against Alberto Machado.

“We have been working together for 3 or 4 fights,” Morales told FanSided through an interpreter during a press conference. “Sometimes we rotate fighters in our gym because we can’t train them all. It’s been about a year. Fernando Fernandez has been training with me and other fighters with me since 1998, so he is in good hands.”

In that time, Morales has seen growth in Fierro’s abilities as a boxer.

“When we got him, he used to jump a lot, but now he’s better, in his offense,” said Morales. “He’s a great fighter, who’s very, very tough, and he’s very strong.”

Machado (22-2, 18 KOs) is an explosive puncher and once held the WBA “regular” junior lightweight title before losing back-to-back knockout losses against Andrew Cancio. He won his last fight in December of 2019.

Fierro was preparing for a fight, so he should be in shape for Machado, but the bout is in Machado’s home of Puerto Rico. Still, Morales felt like this was a chance Fierro had to take to advance his career.

“There are opportunities that don’t come very often,” explained Morales. “We lost a fight last time that we weren’t supposed to. But in this fight, he has an opportunity that he has to take advantage of, and he will. You’ll see him make the most of it on Thursday.”

Because Machado has the home-field advantage, Morales insists that they are going for the knockout.

“We know we are in Puerto Rico, so it’s complicated,” said Morales. “It’s going to be a tough fight. That’s the tradition because it’s Mexico vs. Puerto Rico. But he is going to come here and beat Machado in his hometown. We trust that the judges will do their job, but there’s no doubt about it, we are going for the knockout.”

Fierro has his work cut out for him, but he becomes immediately relevant in the lightweight division if he wins.