Quick Facts
Biography
Eric Arturo Morel (born October 10, 1975 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) 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 Jose Victor 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 Martin 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 Penalosa 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
| 45 Wins (23 knockouts), 4 loss(s), 0 Draw, 0 No Contest | |||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 46-4 | Leo Santa Cruz | RTD | 5 | 2012-09-15 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada | IBF Batamweight World title on the line. |
| Loss | 46-3 | Abner Mares | UD | 12 | 2012-04-21 | Don Haskins Convention Center, El Paso, Texas | WBC World Super Batamweight World title on the line. |
| Win | 46-2 | Jose Silveira | TKO | 4 (10) | 2011-12-03 | Honda Center, Anaheim, California | |
| Win | 45-2 | Daniel Quevedo | TKO | 4 (10) | 2011-08-13 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Win | 44-2 | Luis Maldonado | TKO | 4 (10) | 2011-04-01 | Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California | |
| Win | 43-2 | Juan Jose Beltran | UD | 8 | 2010-12-11 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington | |
| Win | 42-2 | Gerry Penalosa | SD | 12 | 2010-02-13 | Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada | Won interim WBO Bantamweight title. |
| Win | 41-2 | Roberto Bonilla | UD | 10 | 2009-03-28 | Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | |
| Win | 40-2 | Ricardo Vargas | TKO | 1 (10) | 2008-12-13 | Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | |
| Win | 39-2 | Heriberto Ruiz | UD | 12 | 2008-08-30 | Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental Bantamweight title. |
| Win | 38-2 | Jose Garcia Bernal | TKO | 3 (10) | 2008-05-23 | Coliseo Antonio R. Barcelo, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | |
| Win | 37-2 | Carlos Valcarcel | KO | 6 (10) | 2008-04-05 | Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| Win | 36-2 | Felipe Almanza | UD | 8 | 2008-02-08 | Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida | |
| Loss | 35-2 | Martin Castillo | UD | 12 | 2005-03-19 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada | WBA World Super Flyweight World title on the line. |
| Win | 35-1 | Juan Alfonso Keb Baas | UD | 12 | 2005-01-29 | Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Retained WBO NABO Super Flyweight title. |
| Win | 34-1 | Jesus Rojas | UD | 12 | 2004-03-20 | Coliseo Mario 'Quijote' Morales, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico | Won WBO NABO Super Flyweight title. |
| Loss | 33-1 | Lorenzo Parra | UD | 12 | 2003-12-06 | Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Lost WBA World Flyweight World title. |
| Win | 33-0 | Isidro García | UD | 12 | 2003-06-28 | Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Retained WBA World Flyweight World title. |
| Win | 32-0 | Denkaosan Kaovichit | TKO | 11 (12) | 2002-10-12 | Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California | Retained WBA World Flyweight World title. |
| Win | 31-0 | Alex Baba | UD | 10 | 2002-01-11 | oliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas, Puerto Rico | |
| Win | 30-0 | Jose de Jesus Lopez | RTD | 8 (12) | 2001-06-08 | Ho-Chunk Casino, Baraboo, Wisconsin | Retained WBA World Flyweight World title. |
| Win | 29-0 | Gilberto Keb Baas | UD | 12 | 2000-12-15 | Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin | Retained WBA World Flyweight World title. |
| Win | 28-0 | Alberto Ontiveros | UD | 12 | 2000-10-07 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained WBA World Flyweight World title. |
| Win | 27-0 | Sornpichai Kratingdaenggym | UD | 12 | 2000-08-05 | Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin | Won WBA World Flyweight World title. |
| Win | 26-0 | Alberto Ontiveros | UD | 12 | 2000-06-03 | DeJope Bingo & Entertainment, Madison, Wisconsin | Retained IBA Super Flyweight title. |
| Win | 25-0 | Tomás Rivera | UD | 8 | 2000-02-12 | Bank of America Center, Boise, Idaho | |
| Win | 24-0 | Oscar Arciniega | UD | 8 | 1999-12-04 | Equestrian Center, El Paso, Texas | |
| Win | 23-0 | Miguel Ángel Granados | UD | 12 | 1999-09-18 | Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained IBA Super Flyweight title. |
| Win | 22-0 | Francisco Espitia | KO | 1 (12) | 1999-08-06 | State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio | Retained IBA Super Flyweight title. |
| Win | 21-0 | Lorenzo Trejo | KO | 4 (8) | 1999-06-12 | Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California | |
| Win | 20-0 | Jose Rafael Sosa | UD | 8 | 1999-04-24 | Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico | |
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.