On November 27th Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera will engage in the third and final chapter of their epic trilogy. The routes these two great fighters have traveled since their first classic fight in 2000, won by Morales, have been markedly different, yet both paths led them towards a collision course once again.
After defeating Morales on a close, split decision in their rematch Barrera defeated a tired Johnny Tapia by decision and then knocked out a shop-worn and over-matched Kevin Kelley in the fourth round. Regarded by many at the time as at, or near the top of the pound for pound heap he then took on Filipino whirlwind Manny Pacquiao and was beaten nearly senseless and stopped in the eleventh round.
He rebounded with a wonderfully technical performance over Paulie Ayala. But because the light hitting Ayala had been dominated by Morales earlier, questions about just how much he has left are still left unanswered.
Morales on the other hand has surged since the rematch, going 6 ? 0. He has beaten Ayala, Eddie Croft, Fernando Velardez, Guty Espadas, Jesus Chavez and Carlos Hernandez. Along the way he joined Mexican icon Julio Caesar Chavez as only the second Mexican fighter to hold titles in three different weight divisions. It would seem that Morales has the upper hand going into the rubber-match. But styles make fights and not only is this a fight for Mexican bragging rights, it pits two proud men who, quite pointedly, can?t stand each other.
Morales says that he doesn?t need to fight Barrera again, yet in truth he has been dying to knock off his nemesis from Mexico City ever since his lone loss in the rematch. Where these two come from plays heavily into the animosity that has heated this rivalry to the boiling point. Different stations in life have divided fans who feel a kinship with one or the other depending on their own predicaments. Boxing fans adore both, but in Mexico there is a dividing line when it comes to their heroes. Where boxing has waned in widespread popularity in the United States it remains a daily aspect of life amongst Mexicans and Mexican Americans. Morales and Barrera encompass all that Mexican boxing fanatics worship.
And the division line starts at where they come from and their respective affluence. Morales comes from the poor border town of Tijuana. He was born in a building his father owned and then renovated into a boxing gym. The fighter who would become ?El Terrible? put on his first pair of gloves at age four and never looked back. The ring became his home.
Barrera comes from Mexico City and from a hard working family of privilege. His upbringing was less harsh than his counterpart but his desire was no less intense. He was studying to be a lawyer before the smell of the gym and the thrill of knocking out opponents amidst the cheers of his countrymen caught hold of him. He still intends to return to his law studies when his career is over. He also became the darling of the boxing world, particularly at his home base of HBO and its often, seemingly, agenda driven commentators. After his first bout with Morales the HBO crew, and much of the media went overboard in praising Marco ? he wasn?t even expected to last the distance (a fact many forget) and his performance, against an equally great performance by Erik, pushed Morales into the shadows. It was in that number two position where ?El Terrible? seethed and became a rather unpleasant sort. He then began to dominate his opposition, slowly creeping closer and closer into the light of recognition he so craves.
There are questions about both fighters. Is Morales peaking, or after all the tough fights he?s endured is he one fight away from collapse? Was Barrera?s fight against Pacquaio an aberration or a clear indication that he is on the downside of a long and illustrious career? In the end it probably doesn?t matter. Certain fighters were born to fight one another and so it is with these two.
Morales feels that fighting at 130 only makes him stronger and if he has a clear edge that may be the most substantial. He no longer looks like the skeletal figure he did at featherweight and super bantamweight.
?Fans will see an Erik they have never seen before,? Morales recently said. ?The people wanted to see this and I think we should get it all over with. If I see an opportunity to knock him out, I?ll go for it, and I?ll be a lot happier if I am able to knock him out.?
Whatever happens this fight is an early Christmas present for fight fans. It should be unforgettable.
