Less than a month after Arturo Gatti retired from the ring, another blood-and-guts warrior called it quits last night. In front of a partisan crowd at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, Erik "El Terrible" Morales lost a unanimous decision to David Diaz, failing to become the only Mexican fighter to win titles in four weight classes. The judges scored the fight 114-113, 115-113, and 115-112. I had it 115-113 for Morales.

Round one was perhaps the most exciting of the fight, as Diaz hurt "El Terrible" with a straight left that sent him backing up into the ropes. As Diaz went in for the kill, the veteran Morales caught him with a counter right which landed flush to the champion's chin, sending him to the canvas. Although Morales' footwork and combinations appeared a step slower, he clearly proved himself the superior fighter and showed good ring generalship in the middle rounds. The Morales who, after being hit with a hard punch, chased you down to land his own, was gone. Instead, Morales showed bursts of controlled aggression, combinations, and powerpunching. At times he was content to cover up, which allowed Diaz to bull in, throwng elbows and rights to the body.

Diaz, 33-1-1 (17), fought with tenacity and heart, but he barely eked out the win over a supposedly shot fighter. If unification bouts are made with the other lightweight titlists, both of them--Juan Diaz and Julio Diaz (no relation)--have the ability to beat him. Diaz' win over Morales will do more for his career than actually winning the WBC trinket, but he is an ordinary fighter who wins on heart and will not be able to compete with the elite fighters in and around his weight class.

Morales, 48-6 (34), will be sorely missed. He combined an high level of skill with an all-action style which made him popular to boxing fans who appreciated his warrior style. He had heart and a fiery determination that showed itself in his epic trilogies with Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao. He often made fights worth seeing, but last night he couldn't quite make history. Still, at age 30, he has accomplished more than many older fighters can ever dream of. With titles at 122, 126, and 130, he is a shoe-in for Canastota.