Undefeated Tijuana super flyweight Ivan “Niño Maravilla” Morales (15-0, 10KOs) signals that all systems are a go for his return to his hometown on Saturday, February 11th, at the Tijuana Municipal Auditorium. Morales will be part of “Sangre y Patria (Blood and Country)” a multi fight bout card presented by his older brother Erik “Terrible” Morales’ Box Latino. Morales will face off against experienced journeyman Ricardo “Rocky” Armenta (15-13-1, 7KOs) of Agua Prieta, Mexico. The eight round bout between southpaws will be part of the live telecast by Mexican mega channel Televisa’s boxing series “Sabados de Corona“.
With honesty rarely seen in boxing, Morales admits that his next opponent might not be as dangerous as people would like but he still feels that he must rise to the occasion since he is fighting on his home turf. “The challenge is to show what we have been working on in the gym. If my opponent is not as dangerous as he should be, I want to show superiority and give a great show to the public.”
Despite his record, Armenta can turn out to be a tougher opponent for Morales that many are giving him credit for. With a pro career spanning almost four years, Armenta has amassed double the fights as Morales and against much tougher opponents such as Victor Zaleta, Javier “Cobra” Mendoza and Hernan “Tyson” Marquez among others.
The twenty-year old Morales, who is trained by his other brother, former WBO 115 lbs. champ Diego “Pelucho” Morales, has not fought in Tijuana since December of 2010 when he stopped Manuel Valdez in one on the fight card that his brother Erik earned a unanimous decision over late sub Francisco Lorenzo.
“It is a great motivation for me since I am finally going to fight in front of my people again. I am very enthusiastic and ready to give a great show,” Morales stated. “People can expect a stronger, faster, more forceful and hungrier Ivan Morales. I am going to go out and look for the knock out and I expect a spectacular one.”
