CHICAGO - Remember Erik Morales, the Mexican legend whose blood-soaked trilogy with Manny Pacquiao launched a million pay-per-view buys?
Well, he retired in 2012 and has moved on with his life with the same workmanlike purpose that defined his illustrious 20-year career.
A four-division champ, who had 36 KOs in 52 wins against nine defeats, he was inducted into the international boxing Hall of Fame just last June. A month later, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, which is the lower house of the Congress of the Union, the bicameral legislature of Mexico.
In other words he is kind of like Congressman Erik now. armed with a fresh three-year mandate.
Morales, 42, also does media work as a broadcast analyst for Fox Deportes. And that's why I bumped into him last Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena for the GGG-Canelo rematch.
We had a short chat that centered on Pacquiao's planned December dance with Floyd Mayweather, a rematch that amazes him. He said he'd like to visit the Philippines again someday and perhaps knock down a few bottles of San Miguel beer.
Life is good for El Terrible, a menace on the ring, but a fine gentleman outside the ropes.
WATCH PARTY. After the post-fight presser, I took an Uber to North Las Vegas where an eating and drinking orgy disguised as a GGG vs Canelo 2 watch party was taking place.
Hosted by newly-weds P.J. Cabigon and his lovely bride, Angelie Mae Cabigon, I joined a heavily pro-Golovkin crowd of some 75 guests as we ate and drank merrily until the wee, small hours of Sunday morning.
A very dead pig - seasoned Bisaya-style and roasted into golden brown perfection - was the main entree'. There was also a generous spread of chicken and pork barbecue, beef steak and lumpia shanghai. Those who renounced meat settled with tuna and piles of large shrimp that was sauteed into pale orange delights.
At age 50, with the threat of diabetes lurking, I carefully watched what I swallowed, so I dusted off only five disposable plates.
The shindig had enough alcohol to float Noah's ark.
As they stoked the mahjong tiles with a passion, the ladies toyed with their wine glasses. Most of the guys bloated their full stomachs even more with beer, while others such as myself dueled with the hard liquor, including Tequila at sunrise.
Those Cabigons really know how to throw a party.
THE LONGEST DAY. With a throbbing headache and a queasy stomach, I headed home.
Unfortunately, my Spirit Airlines trip was so painfully dispiriting. It involved three airports, two time zones, one extended layover, and 14 hours to make sense of it all. If going home was supposed to be the best part of travel, avoid this itinerary.
If not for my alcohol-induced coma, I could have used the time to read each of the 1,225 pages of Leo Tolstoy's classic War and Peace.
No complaints, though. The fare was reasonable, a shade below $600, considering it was purchased on three days' notice. I got exactly what I paid for.
I should have listened to SPIN.ph contributor Balt Chavez, a travel savant who suggested that I fly via Virgin Airlines.
Since I was angling for a cheap ticket, choosing Richard Branson's carrier still would have entailed a long trip that lasted like a prison term. But hey, at least the beer is free.
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