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]
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Morris East | |
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Statistics | |
Real name | Morris East |
Weight(s) |
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Nationality | ![]() |
Born | (1973-08-08) August 8, 1973 (age 49) Olongapo, Philippines |
Stance | Southpaw |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 25 |
Wins | 20 |
Wins by KO | 12 |
Losses | 4 |
Draws | 0 |
No contests | 1 |
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]
East turned professional in 1989 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.[5] 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.[4] The victory over Hiranaka was named Ring Magazine Knockout of the Year for 1992. Morris lost the title in his first defense against Juan Martin Coggi.[6]
East would retire after winning and defending the Philippines Games & Amusement Board Light Middleweight Championship in 1995 at only 21 years of age.
25 fights | 20 wins | 4 losses |
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By knockout | 12 | 0 |
By decision | 8 | 4 |
No contests | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
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25 | Win | 20–4 (1) | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 27 May 1995 | ![]() |
Retained Philippines Games & Amusement Board (GAB) super-welterweight title |
24 | Win | 19–4 (1) | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (12) | 25 Mar 1995 | ![]() |
Won vacant Philippines Games & Amusement Board (GAB) super-welterweight title |
23 | Loss | 18–4 (1) | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 13 Feb 1995 | ![]() |
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22 | Win | 18–3 (1) | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 26 Nov 1994 | ![]() |
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21 | Win | 17–3 (1) | ![]() |
KO | 6 (10) | 14 May 1994 | ![]() |
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20 | Loss | 16–3 (1) | ![]() |
TKO | 8 (12), 2:50 | 12 Jan 1993 | ![]() |
Lost WBA super-lightweight title |
19 | Win | 16–2 (1) | ![]() |
TKO | 11 (12), 1:47 | 9 Sep 1992 | ![]() |
Won WBA super-lightweight title |
18 | Win | 15–2 (1) | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (10), 0:47 | 17 Jul 1992 | ![]() |
|
17 | Win | 14–2 (1) | ![]() |
KO | 10 (12), 1:22 | 29 Feb 1992 | ![]() |
Won OPBF lightweight title |
16 | Win | 13–2 (1) | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 20 Dec 1991 | ![]() |
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15 | Win | 12–2 (1) | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (10) | 19 Oct 1991 | ![]() |
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14 | Win | 11–2 (1) | ![]() |
TKO | 7 (10) | 28 Aug 1991 | ![]() |
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13 | Win | 10–2 (1) | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 12 Jun 1991 | ![]() |
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12 | NC | 9–2 (1) | ![]() |
NC | 6 (10), 0:35 | 22 Dec 1990 | ![]() |
NC after both fighters refused to engage |
11 | Win | 9–2 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 12 Oct 1990 | ![]() |
|
10 | Win | 8–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (10) | 31 Aug 1990 | ![]() |
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9 | Win | 7–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (10), 2:32 | 14 Jul 1990 | ![]() |
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8 | Loss | 6–2 | ![]() |
SD | 10 | 31 Mar 1990 | ![]() |
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7 | Win | 6–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (10) | 21 Jan 1990 | ![]() |
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6 | Win | 5–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (10) | 29 Dec 1989 | ![]() |
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5 | Win | 4–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 30 Nov 1989 | ![]() |
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4 | Loss | 3–1 | ![]() |
MD | 10 | 30 Sep 1989 | ![]() | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | 21 Jul 1989 | ![]() |
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2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
UD | 6 | 23 Jun 1989 | ![]() |
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1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (6) | 3 May 1989 | ![]() |
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.[5][7] East also worked with Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.[1]
Born of a Filipina and black American U.S. Navy sailor, 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.[8]
Preceded by | WBA Light Welterweight Champion September 9, 1992 – January 12, 1993 |
Succeeded by |