By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Although he weighed in at the bantamweight limit of 118 pounds for Saturday night's clash at the Las Vegas Hilton, Fernando Montiel opponent, Ciso Morales, represented a large obstacle in more ways than one.
Listed at only an inch taller than Montiel at 5-foot-5, the slender Morales looked to be bigger. And his nickname, "Kid Terrible," makes him every bit the threat that he's supposed to be.
"I know Ciso Morales is a very hungry fighter," said Montiel, who, at the age of 30, is eight years older than the 22-year-old Morales. "I know that he is coming to take my title."
Montiel (39-2-2, 29 KOs), of Los Mochis, Mex., will be riding an 8-0-1 unbeaten streak that includes five knockouts when he steps into the ring opposite Morales (14-0, eight KOs), of Bohol, Philippines, to defend his WBO crown.
Morales is a youngster whom many compare favorably to seven-division titlist, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), the cross-over Filipino superstar who will defend his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title against Joshua Clottey on March 13 at The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium.
Montiel-Morales will be an undercard bout to Saturday night's main event of Top Rank's Latin Fury 13-Pinoy Power III pay-per-view card, featuring 27-year-old WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) champ Nonito Donaire (22-1, 14 KOs) of the Philippines defending his belt against 28-year-old Manuel Vargas (26-4-1, 11 KOs) of Jalisco, Mexico, in the main event.
The show also has Puerto Rican-born, 34-year-old former WBA flyweight (112 pounds) king Eric Morel (41-2, 21 KOs), of Madison, Wis., facing 37-year-old, southpaw, former two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa (54-7-2, 36 KOs), of Cebu, Philippines, in a WBO 118-pound title eliminator.
Also on the card is a featherweight clash between 31-year-old Puerto Rican southpaw Mario Santiago (21-1-1, 14 KOs) going up against 22-year-old Bernabe Concepcion (29-2-1, 17 KOs), of Rizal, Philippines.
"Montiel has been one of the premiere fighters for a while. And if he gets by Morales, then he's going to fight the Morel-Penalosa winner," said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions.
"That's only if he gets by this guy -- and that's a big 'if,'" said Arum, "Because the guy is a young, hungry fighter, this Morales, who is very, very good."
Montiel last suffered defeat in May of 2006, via split-decision to Jhonny Gonzalez during his bid to earn that same crown.
Coming off of September's three-round, technical draw with Alejandro Valdez, Montiel said that he realizes what is ahead of him should he defeat the energetic Morales.
"At this stage in my career, I want a big fight against big names like Nonito Donaire," said Montiel, who earned the interim WBO belt with a third-round knockout of Diego Oscar Silva in March.
"I know that I have to stay patient and not get wild on Saturday night," said Montiel. "I am really looking forward to this fight."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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