This is from BoxingScene: This could be an interesting fight. Haven't seen much of Morel since his return to the ring, as he's stayed pretty much in Puerto Rico, while Penalosa has had a lot of rumored fights without a lot of action since knocking Gonzalez out.
Was Eric Morel not convicted of sexual assault, or something? I talked to him on chat one time back in boxingtime days, seemed like a nice guy.
This article sums up what the way I remember it. Somewhat surprisingly, perhaps appropriately, details of the incident were not prevalent in Wisconsin news. The incident itself was fairly big news, but not really that big. As I remember, and I could be wrong, Morel and some of the others, were accused of circle jerking around the girl either while the one guy had sex with her or after leading to the semen on her clothes. The name of the girl, to my knowledge, never got out like rape victims' names often do. Nor do I remember what punishment the primary violator received. Morel's conduct was obviously deplorable, but as you can tell from the prosecutor's recommendation, they regularly see far worse. I don't know Morel, but I've seen him interviewed quite a few times and know people who know him and what I've heard is positive, the above-mentioned incident notwithstanding. from: http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.sport.boxing/2005-10/msg00639.html http://www.jsonline.com/sports/etc/oct05/362495.asp Morel gets two years in prison By MARK STEWART mstewart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Posted: Oct. 11, 2005 Madison - Calling Eric Morel's actions "degrading" and "depraved," Judge C. William Foust sentenced the former world boxing champion to prison for two years followed by two years probation for his role in the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. Foust handed down the sentence Tuesday afternoon in Dane County Circuit Court after listening to more than an hour of testimony that included a letter from the victim as well as a handful of Morel's family members and former manager Bob Lynch, who each spoke on behalf of Morel's character. Foust also prohibited Morel, 30, from having contact with minors following his release unless he gets the approval of his probation officer. There is a chance he'll have to register as a sex offender although the court will determine that matter at a later date. The sentence was stiffer than the prosecution or defense recommended. In June, Morel agreed to a plea agreement in which he pleaded no contest to the charge. In return, the district attorney agreed not to ask for confined prison time in Morel's case. Instead, the prosecutor recommended Morel receive five years probation and one year of jail time, which could have meant house arrest or an arrangement that would allow him the freedom to leave the jail for work. Morel's attorney, Victor Arellano, recommended that his client receive no more than 6 months house arrest and probation. However, Foust thought a stiffer sentence was necessary, stating: "This kind of sexual contact with a passed out 15-year-old is too shocking and too outrageous. It's a set of facts where I have to say the line is here and you've gone beyond that." In June 2004, Morel and his brothers, Frederick Orlando Santos-Perez and Samuel Morel, were charged with second-degree sexual assault stemming from an incident Dec. 1, 2002, inside a Fitchburg apartment. According to police, a friend of the victim who was also at the apartment, said Santos-Perez had sex with the 15-year-old while Morel watched. The friend told police she later returned to the room and found the victim passed out on a bed as a number of men stood around her. The victim told police she didn't remember the incident but that when she awoke the next morning the inside of her legs hurt and her lip was swollen. A medical exam taken the next day confirmed those injuries. Morel submitted to a DNA test, which connected him to semen found on the girl and her clothing. Morel pleaded not guilty to the charge last August, but admitted Tuesday that he had a role in the incident. A prepared statement he read before court said, in part: "I take full responsibility for my participation," he said. "I hope that some day the victim can find it in her heart to forgive my transgressions." The prison time could permanently stall what Morel hoped would be a comeback in boxing. The 1996 Olympian and former 112-pound world champion lost two of his last four fights. In July his fight with super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel was cancelled after the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended his license because of his no-contest plea. However, the only fight Morel was concerned with on Tuesday was the one for his freedom. He cried as family members spoke of the loving person they knew him to be and broke down again as he read his statement. A few feet away the victim watched with her family. She attended the hearing but didn't speak. However, in a letter to the court she said she'd moved away from her hometown because she felt "dirty" and "humiliated" by the incident and joined the Wisconsin National Guard Challenge Academy in order to "toughen myself, make myself stronger, make myself forget." It hasn't worked. "How has all this affected me? Well, to be honest, I'm still very sick about it all, I'm still very sad, still very upset," she said in the letter. "And I don't think I will ever forget what has happened to me. I don't think I ever will." >From the Oct. 12, 2005, editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
I expect Morel to outbox Penalosa. I think his style matches up very well against Penalosa. I'd pick Jhonny against Morel for the same reason.
Last fight I saw of him was when Parra kicked his arse. Now losing to Sakata and Caballero Parra is about done.
