Morris East

Last updated
Morris East
Born (1973-08-08) August 8, 1973 (age 51)
Olongapo, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Statistics
Weight(s) Light welterweight
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights25
Wins20
Wins by KO12
Losses4
No contests1

Morris East (born August 8, 1973, in Olongapo, Philippines) is a retired Filipino professional boxer and boxing trainer. [1] East is the former GAB Light Middleweight, OPBF and WBA World Light Welterweight champion. [2] Morris has trained world champions Zab Judah and Nonito Donaire. [3]

Contents

Amateur career

As a teenager, East moved to Cebu City and was spotted by Lito Cortes who brought him to the Cebu Coliseum gym. Promoter Sammy Gello-ani then offered him amateur fights to keep him earning for his meals. [4]

Professional career

WBA Light Welterweight Championship

East turned professional in 1989, at the young age of 15, and won the WBA World Light Welterweight Championship by defeating Akinobu Hiranaka with an 11th-round TKO victory in Tokyo on 9 September 1992. With the victory, East became the youngest ever Filipino to hold a world championship in boxing at the age of 19 years and 31 days old. He is also the second youngest boxer to win a world title at 140 lbs., second to Puerto Rico's Wilfred Benítez, who won the WBA World Jr. Welterweight title when he was 17 years old, the youngest ever to win a world title in boxing history. The victory over Hiranaka was named Ring Magazine Knockout of the Year for 1992. Morris lost the title in his first defense against Martín Coggi.

After winning and defending the Philippines Games & Amusement Board Light Middleweight Championship in 1995, East retired from boxing at only 21 years of age. To this day, East holds the record for the youngest retirement of a former world champion.

Professional boxing record

25 fights20 wins4 losses
By knockout121
By decision83
No contests1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
25Win20–4 (1)Robert AzumahUD1227 May 1995Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila, Metro Manila, PhilippinesRetained GAB super-welterweight title
24Win19–4 (1)Jun CastilloTKO1 (12)25 Mar 1995 Iloilo Sports Complex, Iloilo City, Iloilo, PhilippinesWon vacant GAB super-welterweight title
23Loss18–4 (1)Jintoku SatoUD1013 Feb 1995Japan
22Win18–3 (1) Jeff Malcolm UD1026 Nov 1994Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
21Win17–3 (1)Lee Yung-YongKO6 (10)14 May 1994Araneta Center, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
20Loss16–3 (1) Martín Coggi TKO8 (12), 2:5012 Jan 1993Estadio Super Domo, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaLost WBA super-lightweight title
19Win16–2 (1) Akinobu Hiranaka TKO11 (12), 1:479 Sep 1992 Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, JapanWon WBA super-lightweight title
18Win15–2 (1)Dindo CanoyTKO9 (10), 0:4717 Jul 1992Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
17Win14–2 (1)Kim Pyung-SubKO10 (12), 1:2229 Feb 1992Citizen Hall, Bucheon, South KoreaWon OPBF light welterweight title
16Win13–2 (1)Flash UrsusUD1020 Dec 1991Olympia Sports Complex, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
15Win12–2 (1)Florencio Pastor Jr.TKO9 (10)19 Oct 1991Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
14Win11–2 (1)Tata EscorroTKO7 (10)28 Aug 1991Barangay Marulas, Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, Philippines
13Win10–2 (1)Joey CarpasPTS1012 Jun 1991Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
12NC9–2 (1)Jojo CaysonNC6 (10), 0:3522 Dec 1990 Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Cebu, PhilippinesNC after both fighters refused to engage
11Win9–2Armando AnzalezUD1012 Oct 1990 Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
10Win8–2Ric de la PazTKO4 (10)31 Aug 1990 Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
9Win7–2Pablo PucayTKO6 (10), 2:3214 Jul 1990Baguio College Foundation Gym, Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines
8Loss6–2Fernando PaladSD1031 Mar 1990 Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
7Win6–1Alberto SaxonTKO5 (10)21 Jan 1990Barangay Malinta, Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, Philippines
6Win5–1Boy MasuayTKO6 (10)29 Dec 1989Pasay City Sports Complex, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
5Win4–1Armando AndalesUD1030 Nov 1989Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines
4Loss3–1Boy MasuayMD1030 Sep 1989PRCI, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
3Win3–0Geronimo MagallanesUD821 Jul 1989PRCI, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
2Win2–0Fer GuevarraUD623 Jun 1989PRCI, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
1Win1–0Jessie MirandaTKO6 (6)3 May 1989Elorde Sports Center, Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Training career

East moved to San Diego, California in 1996 and later moved to Las Vegas, where he works as a fight trainer in the Johnny Tocco gym. In 2011, he worked with IBF light welterweight titleholder Zab Judah and WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire. East also worked with Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.

Personal life

Born of a Filipina and black American U.S. Navy sailor, [5] East didn't meet his father until he became champion. He traveled from the Philippines to the United States a month after winning his WBA belt to locate his father, John East, Sr. With the help of a long-lost sister and the CNN news team, the father was located in Oakland, California and their first meeting was broadcast by CNN. Morris improved his father's living condition but his father, suffering from bad health, died of cancer a few months later.

See also

References

  1. "I TOLD PACQUIAO ONE DAY HE WILL BECOME A CHAMPION...HE REALLY MADE IT". Fighthype. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  2. "Morris East Signs Juanito Rubillar, Rexon Flores". Boxingscene. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  3. "Donaire blazing trail up sport's ladder of success". SFGate. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
  4. "MORRIS EAST IS THE YOUNGEST EVER FILIPINO BOXING CHAMPION". Philboxing. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
  5. "EAST LOOKS TO WEST, FOR FATHER AND GLORY". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Pyung Sub Kim
OPBF light welterweight champion
February 29, 1992 – 1992
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Kyung Hyun Park
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA super lightweight champion
September 9, 1992 – January 12, 1993
Succeeded by
Awards
Previous:
No award was given in 1992
The Ring Knockout of the Year
1992
With: Kennedy McKinney KO11 Welcome Ncita
Next:
Gerald McClellan
TKO5 Julian Jackson