Victor Morales Jr. made a successful debut as a professional boxer on Saturday, earning a unanimous decision over 32-year-old Erick Lainez in a four-round featherweight bout at Anaheim, Calif.
A recent Union High School graduate, Morales’ debut came on the undercard of a Premier Boxing Champions event for Spike TV at Honda Center that was headlined by Robert Guerrero against David Peralta. Morales’ debut bout was not televised.
The big venue and occasion did not phase Morales, who has represented the United States as an amateur but was not old enough to compete at the Rio Olympics.
“Everything leading up to the fight was a little different,” Morales said, listing media interviews and the hype that surrounds professional events. “Right when I got into the ring everything was the same.”
Morales said he controlled the fight throughout. In his first bout without headgear, Morales left the ring without a blemish on his face.
“I outboxed him. I don’t think I missed that many punches,” Morales said.
Lanez, who fights out of Texas, fell to 1-3 as a professional boxer. A report by roundbyroundboxing.com described Morales performance as “a nearly poetic display of boxing ability.”
The only thing that didn’t go to plan was the gloves Morales was wearing. They lacked enough padding and he wound up with an injured knuckle. He said on Monday that he doesn’t yet know the extent of the that injury.
“Everyone had the same gloves. Mine just didn’t have enough padding,” Morales said.
But Morales was otherwise unscathed and said he is looking forward to his next scheduled fight on Sept. 24 at Central Point, Ore.
Morales is the first boxer signed by Las Vegas-based Shawn Porter Promotions. Shawn Porter was the IBF welterweight champion in 2013 and 2014 under the guidance of his father, Kenny. Kenny Porter was in his corner on Saturday along with Victor Morales Sr.
Morales said the plan is to fight two or three more times in 2016. He said he will continue to train full time at West Portland Boxing with his father as his coach.
