Barrera versus Morales trilogy
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The Barrera versus Morales fight trilogy is one of boxing's most famous trilogies of all time, involving two of Mexico's most revered fighters: "The Baby-Faced Assassin" Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik "El Terrible" Morales. After their third fight was over, many fans and critics started calling it "the Latino version of Ali and Frazier".
The dislike between Barrera and Morales is not promotional hype confined to the boxing ring; the two genuinely dislike each other. This cannot be said about boxers involved in other famous fight trilogies: Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward, for example, are very good friends. Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran get along now and feel a mutual professional respect. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, though disliking each other before their trilogy, have both made attempts at becoming closer over the years.
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[edit] Hatred
Much of the hatred between Barrera and Morales comes from their differing backgrounds: Barrera is a one-time law student who comes from a well-off family in Mexico City; Morales was born under a gymnasium and grew up in poverty in Tijuana, in the northwest part of Mexico. Similar to the dislike between American Northerners and Southerners, people who live in Mexico's capital and those who live in Mexico's north dislike each other, and often exchange racist slurs.
Barrera and Morales follow the pattern quite well: during pre-fight public meetings, they can barely contain themselves from going at each other. In fact, they were involved in a fist fight during a press conference before their second bout, and Morales threw water at Barrera's father after their third bout was over.
[edit] Background
Marco Antonio Barrera had been the WBO world Bantamweight champion before he moved to the Super Bantamweight division to win the WBO title and unify it with Morales. Morales, from his part, was undefeated and he had won the WBC world Super Bantamweight title, knocking out the usually durable Daniel Zaragoza in eleven rounds in 1997 to win the world championship. Naturally, their first fight drew large interest in Mexico and many other Latin American countries. It also drew some interest in the United States. But Barrera was seen by many as a fighter whose best days had gone by, therefore, most fans and critics expected an easy win for Morales.
[edit] First fight
Their first fight took place on February 19, 2000, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas and was televised on HBO Boxing.
This fight was set to a fast pace from round one on. By round four, the two boxers were sweating heavily, but they still managed to keep on punching. Round five was Ring Magazine's round of the year. For much of the round, Morales landed heavy punches, but, with ten seconds to go, he mistakenly thought that the round was over when he heard a sound, and he started turning towards his corner, then Barrera followed him and added a flush combination of shots that put Morales against the ropes, almost dropping him. By the round's end, Morales sported an injury on one of his eyes.
Rounds six to eleven followed the same pattern: one of the two boxers would begin the round by hurting the other, then the other would attack back, and by the end of the round, both fighters were trading power punches.
In round twelve, Barrera sent Morales to the canvas with a punch to the body. Morales' eye had changed into a purplish-dark colored injury. Both boxers were extremely exhausted but still throwing a large amount of punches when the final bell rang.
Morales was declared winner by a split decision, with scores of 115-112, 114-113 and 113-114.
Many who watched the fight, as well as many boxing magazine writers, felt Barrera was robbed of a win by the judges, therefore, claims for a rematch began almost as soon as the decision in favor of Morales was announced. The WBO refused to recognize Morales as champion, returning their belt, and championship recognition, to Barrera.
Most rounds in this fight were difficult to score, making it harder for observers to pick a winner. The fight was declared fight of the year by Ring Magazine.
[edit] Second fight
Their second fight took place on June 22, 2002, also in Las Vegas, but at the MGM Grand Hotel instead. After the impact their first fight had on many of those that saw it, their second fight was made a Pay Per View event. It was for The Ring and WBC's world Featherweight titles.
This is often described as the most tactical fight of the three. Nevertheless, there was plenty of furious exchanges, but, with Barrera fighting a more technical fight, Morales looked like he was connecting with heavier punches. In round four, Barrera went to the floor from what many claimed was a body punch by Morales, but the fall was ruled a slip and not a knockdown. This would prove critical in the fight's outcome.
Morales and Barrera once again traded punches from round one to round twelve, with many furious exchanges. Barrera utilized his jab more, with Morales connecting more power punches. Once again, their second fight was very difficult to score.
Barrera was declared the winner by unanimous decision, with scores of 116-112 and 115-113 (twice). Had the fall in round four been called a knockdown, the two 115-113 scores might have changed to 114-114 each, therefore, it would have been a majority draw (tie).
This time, most fans and observers felt it was Morales who had been robbed of a win by the judges. The WBC reciprocrated the WBO's actions after the first fight, by returning their belt and world championship recognition to Morales.
Before the fight, Morales' team tried to trick the Barrera team by disguising the Japanese manufactured Winning gloves, which Morales prefers to wear due to his prominent knuckles, with the Cleto Reyes logos. The contract for the bout required that both fighters wear the Mexican designed Cleto Reyes gloves. Barrera's brother discovered the error and had Barrera's gloves changed to Cleto Reyes, while Morales proceeded to wear the Winning gloves with the Reyes logos.
[edit] Third fight
The third fight of the trilogy was fought at the Super Featherweight Division. Morales had gone on to win the WBC world title in that division after defeating Jesús Chávez, and Barrera had lost recognition as world Featherweight champion after being defeated by Manny Pacquiao, so he moved up to the Super Featherweight division to challenge Morales.
The third fight took place on November 27, 2004, once again at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It was another HBO Pay Per View event.
Barrera and Morales wore yellow Winning gloves (Morales, as the defending titleholder, was allowed the gloves of his choice), which is quite unusual in boxing. Once again, they fought to a furious pace from start to end. Each round was, once again, difficult to score. The two fighters gave each other as hard as they took.
After round eight, the fight seemed to be headed to be scored a tie. However, in round nine, Barrera punished Morales along the ropes, giving him a slight edge.
At the beginning of round ten, Morales caught Barrera with an uppercut that landed on Barrera's chin, and Barrera barely avoided going to the floor. Morales followed with an onslaught that lasted for about one minute, with Barrera firing back, but getting his head snapped back by almost every punch Morales landed. Then, towards the end of the round, Barrera turned things around and began hitting Morales hard, putting him in trouble.
Round eleven saw more of the see saw action the two boxers had made their fans become accostumed to. Both boxers knew the fight, and the claim as to who was the better of the two boxers in the trilogy, was on the line before round twelve. Barrera tried to touch gloves with Morales as a salute after the last round began, but Morales refused. The two fighters began firing away almost immediately. Barrera had a cut on his eye. He was able, however, to hurt Morales once again towards the end of the round, and the fight ended with Morales pinned against the ropes, near a corner, as Barrera pounded away.
Both the fans watching the fight live and HBO's broadcasters awaited for the decision anxiously, and both fighters were carried on their trainers arms around the ring and cheered by their fans after the third fight was over.
Barrera was declared the winner and new WBC world Junior Lightweight champion by a majority decision, with scores of 115-113, 115-114, and 114-114. The WBC did not take recognition away from Barrera.
[edit] A fourth fight?
At the moment, it is very unlikely for this fight to happen due to Morales's recent consecutive back-to-back losses and poor form in the boxing ring. While Barrera is in a definite hot streak and eager to fight Morales for the fouth time, after disposing Mexican-American boxer Rocky Juárez and retaining the WBC Super Featherweight title in May 20, 2006.
However, citing Morales' most recent loss by knockout to rival Manny Pacquiao, the likelihood of a fourth match is slim, as Morales has said he is contemplating retirement.
