Former three-time world champion, Erik Morales, of Tijuana, Mex., scored a 12-round, unanimous decision over Jose "Jicaras" Alfaro on Saturday night in Monterrey, Nuevo, Leon, Mex., ending a 31-month absence from the ring, as well as a four-match losing streak that was part of five losses in his last six fights.

The 33-year-old Morales (49-6, 34 knockouts) dropped the 26-year-old Alfaro, of Nagarote, Nicaragua, to 23-6, with 20 KOs) in a 142-pound bout, renewing his hopes of becoming the first Mexican fighter to win a crown in four divisions.


In March of 2005, Morales earned perhaps the biggest victory of his career by unanimous decision over future seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, who, since then, has gone 12-0, with eight knockouts -- including two stoppages over Morales.

Morales, who will turn 34 in September, won, 116-112, on the cards of two judges, and, 117-111, on that of the third.

Alfaro was coming off of October's one-sided, 10th-round knockout loss to Mexican southpaw, Antonio DeMarco, who won virtually every round of their WBC interim lightweight title bout before stopping Alfaro.

Alfaro had won three straight fights, two of them by knockout, before facing DeMarco.