| BoxingTalk Story |
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10/09/2005
Zaheer Raheem shocked Erik Morales by scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113 in Los Angeles on Saturday. Raheem's victory may have ruined plans for an early 2006 rematch between Morales and Manny Pacquiao. Raheem outlanded Morales 161-85 according to Compubox. Morales tried to mount a late rally, and arguably should have been credited with an eleventh-round knockdown when Raheem's glove appeared to touch the canvas, but overall Raheem was just too slick for Morales. "I'm not going to be cocky, I was surprised [it was so easy to hit him]," said Raheem, a 1996 Olympian. The problem for Morales may have been his weight, a career high 134 for the man who started his career in the 122-pound division. Morales admitted afterwards "he was a very difficult fighter." Raheem, who entered the bout 26-1 and rated #11 by Boxingtalk at junior lightweight, now joins Marco Antonio Barrera as the only man to defeat Morales (Barrera did it twice). -Scott Shaffer
