Two Mexican legends of the ring arrived in Dallas, Texas today to face off and work out for the public ahead of their December 17th exhibition showdown at the Mesquite Rodeo in Mesquite, TX. The two legends, hall of famer and former four-division world champion "El Terrible" Erik Morales and two-division world champion Orlando "Siri" Salido entered SWEAT Boxing Gym in Irving, Texas today for a meet and greet with the media, to face off and give a short work out. The two hit pads for the media and a crowd of adoring fans.
A crowd of adoring fans filled the Irving gym to catch a glimpse of the two Mexican icons! Both combatants hit mitts for two rounds and showed that they still had a little something else and that the December 17th showdown will be hotly contested and not just a walk-through. SWEAT Boxing and Training Owner Hector Vazquez said of doing mitts with Morales that "his power is still there you can still feel the power in his right hand" That right hand was what lead Morales to a hall of fame career where he compiled a 52-9 (36) knockouts and secured him wins over the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Kevin Kelley, and Fort Worth's own Paulie Ayala.
Orlando Salido compiled a record of 44-14-4 (31) and captured his first world title in 2006 when he captured the IBF title by outpointing Robert Guerrero but was stripped of the belt after testing positive for steroids. Salido went on to win the title again in 2010 when he beat up Cristobal Cruz in Mexico. He scored his last and perhaps most impressive win in 2014 when he solved the Matrix and handed Vasyl Lomachenko his first career loss.
The December 17th card will be headlined by the two legends but will also feature several elite Texas-based prospects including 25-year old Middleweight Marco Vazquez of Grand Prairie. Vazquez scored a career-best win in stopping Ulisses Jimenez, a veteran of over 50 pro bouts, in just 34 seconds. Also on the card is fan favorite and Fort Worth Native Tony Lopez. Lopez is coming of a very impressive six-round unanimous decision victory over Diuhl Olguin in Irving back on November fifth.