# Eric Morel

Eric Morel (born October 1, 1975) is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. He is a former World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight (112 lb) champion.

## Amateur career

Morel had an outstanding amateur career, and was the National Golden Gloves Light Flyweight Champion in 1994. He also was a member of the 1996 US Olympic Team as a Flyweight. His result was:
Lost to Maikro Romero (Cuba) 12-24

## Professional career
### Flyweight

"Little Hands Of Steel" turned professional in 1996 and won his first 33 bouts, including the WBA World Flyweight title with a decision win over Sornpichai Kratingdaenggym in 2000 and the IBA World Super Flyweight title in 1998 against Víctor Burgos. He defended the belt five times with wins over Gilberto Keb Baas, Denkaosan Kaovichit, and Isidro García before losing it to Lorenzo Parra by decision in 2003.

### Super Flyweight

He then moved up in weight and took on WBA Super Flyweight title holder Martín Castillo in 2005, but lost a decision. Morel was scheduled to fight Z Gorres for the interim WBO bantamweight title on November 14, 2009, but after the latter's last fight, he (Gorres) suffered a major injury that delayed his boxing career, so the fight was called off. He then returned to the ring against Gerry Peñalosa February 13, 2010; That ended in a win for Eric Morel, lifting the interim WBO bantamweight world championship. He then defeated Juan Jose Beltran December 11, 2010 as a 2-0 record since his return. His next and latest match was against Luis Maldonado April 1, 2011; That now has his record at 3-0 since his return from injury.

## Professional boxing record

| 50 fights | 46 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 23 | 1 |
| By decision | 23 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 50 | Loss | 46–4 | Léo Santa Cruz | RTD | 5 (12) | 2012-09-15 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | For IBF bantamweight title |
| 49 | Loss | 46–3 | Abner Mares | UD | 12 (12) | 2012-04-21 | Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S. | For vacant WBC super bantamweight title |
| 48 | Win | 46–2 | Jose Silveira | UD | 10 (10) | 2011-12-03 | Honda Center, Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 45–2 | Daniel Quevedo | RTD | 4 (10) | 2011-08-13 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 44–2 | Luis Maldonado | TKO | 4 (10) | 2011-04-01 | Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 43–2 | Juan Jose Beltran | UD | 8 (8) | 2010-12-11 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 42–2 | Gerry Peñalosa | SD | 12 (12) | 2010-02-13 | Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Won interim WBO bantamweight title |
| 43 | Win | 41–2 | Roberto Bonilla | UD | 10 (10) | 2009-03-28 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | |
| 42 | Win | 40–2 | Ricardo Vargas | TKO | 1 (10) | 2008-12-13 | José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | |
| 41 | Win | 39–2 | Heriberto Ruiz | UD | 12 (12) | 2008-08-30 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental bantamweight title |
| 40 | Win | 38–2 | Jose Garcia Bernal | TKO | 3 (10) | 2008-05-23 | Coliseo Antonio R. Barcelo, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | |
| 39 | Win | 37–2 | Carlos Valcarcel | KO | 6 (10) | 2008-04-05 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 38 | Win | 36–2 | Felipe Almanza | UD | 8 (8) | 2008-02-08 | Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 37 | Loss | 35–2 | Martín Castillo | UD | 12 (12) | 2005-03-19 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | For WBA super flyweight title |
| 36 | Win | 35–1 | Juan Alfonso Keb Baas | UD | 12 (12) | 2005-01-29 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Retained NABO super flyweight title |
| 35 | Win | 34–1 | Jesús Rojas | UD | 12 (12) | 2004-03-20 | Mario Morales Coliseum, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico | Won vacant NABO super flyweight title |
| 34 | Loss | 33–1 | Lorenzo Parra | UD | 12 (12) | 2003-12-06 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Lost WBA flyweight title |
| 33 | Win | 33–0 | Isidro García | UD | 12 (12) | 2003-06-28 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Retained WBA flyweight title |
| 32 | Win | 32–0 | Denkaosan Kaovichit | TKO | 11 (12) | 2002-10-12 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California | Retained WBA flyweight title |
| 31 | Win | 31–0 | Alex Baba | UD | 10 (10) | 2002-01-11 | Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas, Puerto Rico | |
| 30 | Win | 30–0 | Jose de Jesus Lopez | RTD | 8 (12) | 2001-06-08 | Ho-Chunk Casino, Baraboo, Wisconsin, U.S. | Retained WBA flyweight title |
| 29 | Win | 29–0 | Gilberto Keb Baas | UD | 12 (12) | 2000-12-15 | Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. | Retained WBA flyweight title |
| 28 | Win | 28–0 | Alberto Ontiveros | UD | 12 (12) | 2000-10-07 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBA flyweight title |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Sornpichai Kratingdaenggym | UD | 12 (12) | 2000-08-05 | Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. | Won WBA flyweight title |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Alberto Ontiveros | UD | 12 (12) | 2000-06-03 | DeJope Bingo & Entertainment, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. | Retained IBA super flyweight title |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Tomás Rivera | UD | 8 (8) | 2000-02-12 | Bank of America Center, Boise, Idaho, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Oscar Arciniega | UD | 8 (8) | 1999-12-04 | Equestrian Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Miguel Ángel Granados | UD | 12 (12) | 1999-09-18 | Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained IBA super flyweight title |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Francisco Espitia | KO | 1 (12) | 1999-08-06 | State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | Retained IBA super flyweight title |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Lorenzo Trejo | KO | 4 (8) | 1999-06-12 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Jose Rafael Sosa | UD | 8 (8) | 1999-04-24 | Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Ysaias Zamudio | TKO | 7 (10) | 1999-02-17 | Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Víctor Burgos | UD | 12 (12) | 1998-10-17 | Casa Blanca Hotel, Mesquite, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant IBA super flyweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Rodolfo Blanco | TKO | 6 (6) | 1998-09-25 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Julio Cesar Bazan | TKO | 1 (6) | 1998-08-06 | Grand Casino Avoyelles, Marksville, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Erdenotsogtyn Tsogtjargal | UD | 8 (8) | 1998-06-13 | Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Orlando Malone | TKO | 8 (8) | 1998-05-09 | Wisconsin Field House, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Miguel Juarez | RTD | 1 (8) | 1998-03-09 | Moscone Center, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Willie Thomas | TKO | 5 (8) | 1998-01-15 | Wisconsin Field House, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Manuel Sarabia | KO | 1 (8) | 1997-11-15 | Spotlight 29 Casino, Coachella, California, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Carlos Francis Hernandez | UD | 8 (8) | 1997-09-10 | Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Mauro Diaz | TKO | 2 (6) | 1997-07-12 | Grand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Armando Diaz | UD | 4 (4) | Jun 14, 1997 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Jesus Lopez | UD | 4 (4) | 1997-04-12 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Jesus Jimenez Ruiz | TKO | 2 (6) | 1997-04-04 | The Orleans, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Esteban Ayala | TKO | 2 (6) | 1997-03-08 | Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | David Chamendis | KO | 1 (?) | 1997-02-12 | Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Ruben Romero | KO | 1 (4) | 1997-01-11 | Tropicana, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Joseph Salazar | TKO | 1 (4) | 1996-11-30 | Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Jose Luis Aguilar | KO | 3 (4) | 1996-10-11 | Texas Station, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |

## Outside the ring

Shortly after the loss to Castillo, Morel was convicted of sexual assault of a drunken 15-year-old girl and was sent to prison. In July 2007, Morel was granted an early release within 30 days of August 1, 2007 to allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence on extended supervision.