Meet Carlos Morales Jr.: The Little Solution
By William Trillo.JPG)
One of my favorite local fighters to cover in recent years was Carlos Morales, AKA The Solution (19-5-4, 8 KO’s). He was a talented fighter, who took on some of the top names in his division during his career. That list includes: Jorge Linares, Mercito Gesta, and Ryan Garcia. Carlos was always ready to test his skills against whatever challenge was put in front of him.
Recently, I had become aware that Morales had a teenage son who was making some noise in the amateur ranks and was garnering a lot of attention. His name? Carlos Morales, of course.
Having done some enjoyable interviews with Carlos Sr. in the past, I wanted to reach out to the Morales family to talk to both Solutions. As it turned out, I was welcomed with open arms to the Carlos Morales Boxing Stables, and had a chance to speak with father and son.
I think you will find this dual Q and A interesting. Let’s start with Carlos Jr.:
Pound4Pound: First off, I want you to tell me exactly what you’re known as in the ring. Is it Little Solution or Solution Jr. or simply Carlos Morales, Jr.? How do you prefer to be known in the ring?
Carlos Morales, Jr.: Oh, well, I’ll say outside the ring, Carlos Morales. You know, I’m a shy, nervous boy. But, the moment I get inside the ring, my persona takes over, I’m Little Solution. I’m a beast. I want to win. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win, and I go by Little Solution.
P4P: Okay. That’s what I wanted to know. How old are you?
CMJ.: I’m 15 years old.
P4P: When did you start fighting?
CMJ.: I started fighting when I was nine years old, but I’ve always been in the ring since I was six.
P4P: What is your ring record right now?
Carlos Jr.: My record is 80 wins and 10 losses.
P4P: I know you’re starting back training now. Tell me, when and where is your next fight. What’s that all about?
CMJ.: My next fight is going to be in Mexico for the Nationals to qualify for an International tournament. I really have big hopes for that.
P4P: I will be watching for that. Tell me about when you told your dad you wanted to box. How old were you, and how do you think he felt about it?
CMJ.: I don’t really remember. I don’t remember really saying that I wanted to box. I remember showing up one day, then showing up again. And, I started to like it because I had my friend with me. So, I just ended up having a fun time with my friend learning boxing. And, we weren’t taking it serious, but we were in the ring. You know, I was learning dedication. I was learning that I had to come every day, and eventually, I picked up good habits. And, then, I started to take it seriously, and I fell in love with boxing..JPG)
P4P: During that time, when did you realize that you were probably better than a lot of the other kids that were at the gym, and that you had more talent?
CMJ.: In the beginning, I used to box with a bunch of kids. We were all pretty evenly skilled. But, then, during COVID is when I really started to get better. During COVID, me and my dad and my uncle would just stay in the gym all day. We were just doing nothing but fundamentals. And, then, I came back after the lockdown, and I was like a whole different fighter. I was ahead of the game.
P4P: That is very interesting how you made the best of a bad situation. Good for you. Compare your style with your dad’s. What do you feel are similar traits when you box?
CMJ.: When I box, I feel like I’m similar to my dad because I’m able to move around the ring, jab, and am able to use my jab. But, personally, I really love to do everything. It just depends on what I want to do that day. If I want to go for it, I’m going to go for it. If I want to move around, I’ll move around. But, truthfully, my style was heavily inspired off my dad.
P4P: That said, what’s your biggest difference?
CMJ.: My biggest difference is that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win. And, even if the game plan messes up, I will adapt to it, and I understand what to do inside the ring.
P4P: Of all your dad’s fights, which is the one that most inspires you?
CMJ.: The one that inspires me the most is the Jorge Linares fight. That really inspires me because I don’t like to see my dad lose. And, watching that fight, really adds fuel under my fire. I really want to win. And, I saw my dad lose. That, obviously, gave me a drive. I don’t want to lose. I don’t want my kids to see me like that either, so I want to win.
P4P: Okay. What are your short-term goals?
CMJ.: My short-term goal is to be an Olympian. That’s what I plan on doing. That’s the plan, and I will achieve that if I keep working hard.
P4P: Long-term?
CMJ: Long-term, I would like to be a World Champion. I would like to dip my toes into the pros, and maybe, potentially, get three or four World titles. I’m probably going to try to go for more.
P4P: When you’re not in the gym, and you’re just out there with family or friends, what are your other interests?
CMJ: To be honest with you, boxing is my life. I don’t really have anything else. I mean, of course I’m interested in other things, but I just simply can’t do them because I’m dedicated to the sport. I can’t hang out with my friends because I don’t have time. I can’t play video games anymore because I don’t have time. All I do is school. (He is a straight-A student, by the way). That’s basically my only break, and it’s not really a break. It is by itself stressful.
P4P: What grade are you in?
CMJ.: Nine, in high school.
P4P: Okay, last question: Ryan Garcia or Devin Haney?
CMJ: I personally think Devin is going to win. I think he feels good at 140. He is big, you know. He is going to keep flicking that jab out, and Ryan Garcia is going to keep eating it. They’re going to get aggressive. Devin will keep calm under pressure and keep moving. I think Devin could catch and maybe drop Ryan because I feel like at 140, he has a little bit of a pop. I feel like at 135, he was drained. So, he didn’t really have that pop at 135, but I think at 140 he does.
P4P: Okay, great job. Looking forward to talking to you again.
Carlos Jr.: Thank you..JPG)
And now let’s see what the proud father has to say about his son:
Pound4Pound: How old was The Little Solution when he told you he wanted to fight?
Carlos Morales, Sr: He must have been nine years old when he told me he wanted to fight, or to start competing, because he was already sparring and training.
P4P: What was your reaction when he first told you he wanted to fight?
CMS: At first, I didn’t want him to start fighting, and I knew that he didn’t really want to do it. But, I pushed him a little, asking him, “When are you going to fight?” But, then, he found a friend that trained with him. He liked boxing, and my son started to enjoy boxing. That’s when it all started. I said, “Okay, you want to be a boxer? There are terms you must follow because it’s not an easy sport. You don’t play boxing. You got to take it seriously!”
P4P: So, you did encourage him once he made the decision.
CMS: Yes, that is correct. I encouraged him to fight.
P4P: Did you know he was talented right away? Did you think he was going to be as good as he is?
CMS: I knew that if he trained hard, he would definitely be good. He comes from a fighting family; it’s in his blood. He just has to stay focused and train hard.
P4P: What are the similar characteristics of you two?
CMS: He’s disciplined. I think when we take something serious, when we like something, we take it seriously. He looks like he likes boxing competitively, so I explained to him, everything else has to go. You have to be disciplined. You have to do your running. You have to train hard. And, so, I kind of laid out the foundation for him, and he understood. That’s pretty much the same thing that Joey Olivera, my trainer, did for me.
P4P: What are the biggest differences between you two?
CMS: That he started younger than I did. I think that’s the only difference. Sure, I was really talented as well, but he has an advantage. He has me as his trainer, and, you know, he’s my son.
P4P: Two questions: As you are guiding his career, what are his short-term goals?
CMS: Short-term goals are to qualify for the Olympics in 2028. That’s his short-term goal. Hopefully, he wins a medal. We’re hoping for gold, so we are training hard right now, and investing a lot of time in him. Hopefully, he comes back with a gold medal.
P4P: And the long-term goals?
CMS: In the long-term, I really don’t want him to turn professional. I would prefer him to go to school. But, I’m sure that if he gets a medal, there are going to be a lot of promoters giving us a call trying to sign him. And, I’m sure it’s going to be worth a lot of money then.
P4P: Outside of boxing, what are you up to these days?
CMS: What I’m up to? Work, I have a full-time job. My manager owns two restaurants. So, I’m in charge of them. That’s what I’ve been doing ever since.
P4P: Where are the restaurants located?
CMS: We have one in Downtown L.A. called Nick’s Cafe, and one in Eagle Rock, which is called Rock’n Egg Cafe. Nick’s and Rock’n Egg Cafe | American Restaurants in Los Angeles, CA (nickscafela.com)
So, I am jumping back and forth to both restaurants. But, mostly focusing on my son right now. Basically, just making sure that everything goes to plan, and he becomes the best he can be.
P4P: Last question: Devin Haney or Ryan Garcia?
CMS: Oh, that’s a good question. It depends which Ryan Garcia shows up (chuckles). They both have a lot of good qualities, but I say Devin. He looks like he has a better work ethic. Yeah, Ryan Garcia, he doesn’t have that part. It will be a decision; Devin won’t knock him out.
In this world of so-called Social Media Superstars, it is refreshing to speak with a young fighter who just wants to work hard to become the best he can be. Carlos Morales, Jr., The Little Solution, is that hard working young man. We wish him the best of luck, no matter what path he chooses.
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