For Mexican featherweight legend Marco Antonio Barrera, his keenly-awaited third ring encounter with fellow countryman Erik ?El Terible? Morales isn?t only between the two of them. There?s a third party involved and he is no other than Filipino hotshot Manny Pacquiao.
This as Barrera has indicated that aside from catapulting himself back to the firmament of world boxing, he is raring to demolish Morales to also prove that his fight with Pacquiao last year was just a slip and nothing but.
?In the first fight at 122, a lot of people had Erik Morales the favorite and this is what gives me the motivation, the desire to compete and to show that that Pacquiao fight was just a slip and nothing but that. And on November 27, I will prove I am still the best Marco Barrera,? the ?Baby-Faced Assasin? from Mexico told Patrick Kehoe of Secondsout.com.
On that fateful night of November 16, 2003 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Barrera experienced the worst nightmare of his career when he was brutally dismantled into 11th round submission by the rapid, power-punching Pacquiao.
But Barrera quickly brushed off speculations he?s already washed up saying he just had a bad night and that he is determined to get back to the majestic throne where he comfortably seated like a king before that Pacquiao debacle.
?It was a bad night. It was just one of those nights. Even the best fighters have them. If I was to bring up everything that happened outside of the ring before that fight, it would sound like an excuse and therefore I don?t want to,? said Barrera.
?So we will leave that as a bad night but come November 27, it will be different. And that is why I am preparing so hard, so that you will see the Marco Barrera that you have all enjoyed and are accustomed to seeing,? said Barrera.
Barrera is brimming with confidence that he is going to tame Morales in their November 27 showdown topbilling the ?Once and for All? blockbuster card bankrolled by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
?We brought along a great team; camp was great and everything is going perfectly. We are covering all the bases and come November 27, the champion Erik Morales will not be able to imagine what will be in front of him,? warned Barrera.
?Everything has been going perfectly and we have sacrificed a lot of thing with our family but come November 27 you will see the winner: Marco Barrera.?
Head-to-head, the two great Mexican fighters sport an even record. Morales won their first bout in 2000, but Barrera prevailed in their rematch two years ago. Both fights were decided in controversial fashion.
Barrera anticipated his third match with Morales is a combination of their past two meetings so the fans can expect an explosive, action-packed brawl.
?There will be a bit of both, a bit of the first fight and a bit of the second fight, fighting like two Mexican warriors. But the fans can expect an explosive and all action fight,? said Barrera.
?There will be a little bit of everything experience and the weight factor and there will also be the will to win. Morales has been claiming he will be going in to win by a knockout and that?s what?s going to give the fans a great fight because we both have the will to win on November 27th.?
