For diehard fans of Erik "El Terrible" Morales, the image of the Mexican warrior seated on the canvas and accepting defeat to Manny Pacquiao was a hard pill to swallow. The once invincible Morales looked about as vulnerable and resigned as Mike Tyson did in his last pro fight, and it was clear that the Tijuana native's best days were behind him. Saturday night in Rosemont, Illinois' Allstate Arena, Morales fans have something to be excited about again, as their hero will try to take the WBC lightweight title from David Diaz, and become the only Mexican fighter ever to win titles in four different weight classes.

Morales, 48-5 (34), a first-ballot hall-of-famer, will always be immortalized in boxing circles for his epic trilogies with Mexican rival Marco Antonio Barrera and Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao. Morales' popularity transcends the fact that he won only two of their six fights--one versus Barrera and Pacquiao each--and is largely due to his go-for-broke warrior ethic. When Morales lost in his first attempt at 135 against the slick Zahir Raheem in 2005, it appeared that he had little left in the tank. The speculation was confirmed when in his next fight, he was stopped for the first time in his career by Pacquiao, although Morales was winning handily after six rounds. In their rubber match, Morales looked like a shot fighter and crumbled in three rounds to his opponent.

Morales insists he never once thought about retirement after the devestating loss, and when Top Rank offered him the Diaz fight as a gift to their highly prized fighter, Morales didn't have to think twice. The opportunity to go out making history would be a sensational way for Morales to end his illustrious career, and Diaz may be the perfect foil. Although Morales didn't fair well in his first foray into the lightweight division, Diaz is a different fighter than Raheem, and styles make fights. The danger is that even though Diaz is not a big puncher, he certainly punches harder than the feather-fisted Raheem and will surely test Morales. If Morales of old is nowhere to be found, Diaz could have an easy night.

Diaz, 32-1 (17), a former Olympian who never quite lived up to his potential, vows that he will not lose in front of his hometown crowd. At 31, Diaz is a few months older than Morales, put has not been in as many tough fights as his opponent. Diaz does everything technically well, but is not known as an elite fighter, a fact he hopes to change with a win over Morales. Diaz decisioned Emanuel Augustus in 2004 but stopped in the eight round by Kendall Holt in 2005.

Does Diaz have the power to stop Morales? In Morales' defence, the only man to have stopped him his Manny Pacquiao, and the Pac-Man can punch. But if Morales shows up lethargic and slow, Diaz may be able to outbox him at the higher weight. Morales, 135, did not look as gaunt as he did in the years where he struggled to make 126, but Diaz weighed in ata comfortable 133, and that may be the difference. It's one thing to be shot, it's quite another to be fighting above your best weight. Morales has an uphill battle in more ways than one.

Which makes a Morales victory all the more exceptional. Promoter Bob Arum has said that he will insist Morales retire if he loses badly. If "El Terrible" has one fight left in the tank, now's the time to use it. Diaz is no walkover, and if Morales underestimates him, he may find himself on the floor instead of a winner of four.

Prediction: Morales by decision