WBA Flyweight Champ Eric Morel defends his title December 15th against 
 Gilberto Keb Baas, the WBA’s #12 ranked contender.  The fight will be 
 televised by ESPN2.  I caught up with Eric a week before the fight.  
 Here’s what he had to say.






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 Interview by: Marc Lichtenfeld

 Lichtenfeld: How’s training going so far?

 Morel: It’s going great.  I’m training very hard.

 Lichtenfeld: What do you know about your opponent?

 Morel: Nothing at all.  He’s a very very good fighter.  He’s coming from a big   
        win.  He beat Melchor Cob Castro, former 2 times world champion.  (Keb Baas took 
        a 10 round decision from Castro in June)

 Lichtenfeld: Have you watched any tape on him?

 Morel No not at all.

 Lichtenfeld: Do you ever watch tape on your opponents?

 Morel: Yes I do but unfortunately they don’t have tape on this guy.

 Lichtenfeld: Your cutman Miguel Diaz watched him spar in Vegas and called him the 
              most complete fighter you’ve faced.  How are you preparing for that?

 Morel: They are going to come and fight.  They want something that I have.  I’m 
        always prepared mentally and physically.  It took me a long time to get where I 
        am, and I’m going to be here for a long time.  I’m not going to just let it go 
        like that.

 Lichtenfeld: Are you concerned at all about his power?

 Morel: I’ve fought guys that have more knockouts than him.  The guy I took the 
        title away from had 17 knockouts in 19 wins.  I don’t let that bother me.  I just 
        prepare myself to go in there, do my thing and look good.

 Lichtenfeld: Do you prepare any differently for an opponent with knockout power 
              as opposed to an opponent who is more of a boxer?

 Morel: Not at all.  I just train the same.  When I step in the ring I do what I 
        have to do.  I’m a boxer that can adjust to his style very quick.  That doesn’t 
        really concern me at all.

 Lichtenfeld: So what’s your game plan going in?

 Morel: Just be smart, be slick, quick.  Hit and not get hit.  That’s the name of  
        the game and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

 Lichtenfeld: What about the fact that Gilberto Keb-Baas is already talking about 
              giving you a rematch in Mexico after he comes to Madison and takes your 
              title. Does that kind of talk give you extra motivation?

 Morel: You know what, though?  They all say the same thing.  Of course they’re 
        going to have to have confidence in themselves.  They have to believe in 
        themselves to be a boxer, to step into the ring.  There is one thing for sure, I 
        give him a lot of repect for being a boxer and for thinking like that.  I sure 
        give him a lot of respect. But now on December 15th it’s going to be a whole 
        different story. We’ll see if he’s going to back it up.  One thing is talking,   
        it’s another to back it up. We’re going to see if he’s going to do what he’s 
        talking about. They all say that.  They all say they’re going to knock me out.  
        They end up eating a lot of leather.    That’s how it is.  They all say, “well 
        I’m going to knock you out.  I’ve seen a lot of tapes of you,” this and that.  
        OK. Cool. That’s normal.  Of course you’re going to try and knock me out.  But 
        let’s see if that’s going to happen. 
 
 Lichtenfeld: What does fighting in Madison do for your confidence?

 Morel: It gives me a lot of confidence but at the same time it puts a lot of 
        pressure on me.  But hey, I’m a champion and I prepare mentally for these kind of 
        things.

 Lichtenfeld: An article I read recently was criticizing your last bout as  
              unexciting. Does criticsm affect you?  Do you think I have to knock thr guy 
              out because I’m fighting on TV?
 
 Morel: As long as I win it doesn’t matter which way.  As long as I beat him  
        clearly, where there’s no doubt.  It really doesn’t matter to me how I win as 
        long as I win.

 Lichtenfeld: Is there a possiblity that HBO, or any other network may be less 
              willing to show your fights because in their minds they’re not as exciting 
              because there aren’t knockouts?

 Morel: Well, I don’t know what they think but I know what I have to do to win a  
        fight and that’s exactly what I do.  A knockout is something that comes.  I’m not 
        going to look for a knockout.  If I have the opportunity I’m going to go for it.  
        If I don’t, I’m not going to look for a knockout to look good because if I do, I 
        could get knocked out.  That’s why I just step in the ring and do what I have to 
        do to win the fight.
 
 Lichtenfeld: What are your plans after this bout, who would you like to fight 
              next?

 Morel: I leave all that up to my promoter, manager and trainer.  They sit down 
        and talk about deals and money.  Whatever they say if the money is right.  I’ll 
        do whatever.  I’m a boxer, I’m a figher , I’m a champion.  I’m a great champion 
        and I’ll fight anybody at any weight class and I hope they’re at their best.  
        Because I can really show the world that none of the 112, 115, 118, 122 pounders 
        can hang in there with me. 
 
 Lichtenfeld: So does that mean you’ll eventually move back up in weight?

 Morel: Whatever my promoter wants me to do, that’s exactly what I’m going to do, 
        as long as the money is right.

 Lichtenfeld: How has your life changed since you’ve become a champion?

 Morel: I’m just the same guy as I always was.  Like I said before I got the belt, 
        when I get a world title, I’m not going to change a bit.  Why?  Because I know 
        where I came from.  Because I’ve got a belt and life has become much easier, 
        because of the money and all that, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to have to 
        change.  No,  no, no.  I’m helping whoever needs my help.  I’ve been like that 
        all my life and I’ll be like that 20 years from now.
 
 Lichtenfeld: Do you find yourself getting recognized in the streets now?

 Morel: Yes.  A lot more.  It makes me feel proud.  Showing that all the work, the 
        pain, the suffering that I went through.  It makes me feel proud for what I have 
        done throughout my career, that people are recognizing that.  
 
Writers notes: I was told by a mutual friend what a great guy Eric Morel 
                is.  After talking with him, I won’t argue.   I found him to be friendly, 
                humble and completely confident.  He is grateful for the things he has, 
                yet feels that he deserves them because of all his hard work and 
                sacrifices he has endured. My thanks to Mike Fitzgerald for helping to 
                arrange the interview.