Once more into the breach dear friends, once more - William Shakespeare.
Mighty Melissa McMorrow will return to the scene of the crime February 28 to face WBO titleholder Kenia Enriqeez (13-0, 6 KOs) at the Centro De Convenciones, Rosarito, in Baja California, Mexico.
McMorrow, 33, who held the title for two years before being forced to vacate it due to promotional issues, will be fighting in Mexico for the third consecutive time.
Last year, McMorrow (9-5-3, 1 KO) was on the short end of two dubious decisions. The fights were close, but this writer in particular felt that the five-foot dynamo deserved no worse than a draw in one, and victory in the other.
It’s telling that few were surprised when neither decision went McMorrow’s way.
Hometown decisions are a black eye on the sport that needs to be rectified.
Six months after her last disappointment, McMorrow will attempt to regain her title from the 21-year-old Enriqueez, who will be fighting in what amounts to her backyard.
As Yogi Berra once said, "It's déjà vu all over again.”
McMorrow isn’t worried.
“I am not dwelling on the past,” McMorrow told Jim McGrady of The Boxing Tribune. “I have prepared well for this fight and am always working to better my skills. I am sure it will show.”
McMorrow will have to hope the local judges acknowledge those skills to defeat the promising Enriqueez. As always, she’ll be giving up a few inches in height, but her edge in experience could pay dividends. McMorrow will need to get under Enriqueez’s jab and work on the inside against the quicker Enrigueez.
It’s a tall order, but achievable if she manages to rattle Enrigueez with pressure.
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