The epic trilogy between Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales turns up its final chapter when the two Mexican boxing greats meet for the third time in a blockbuster showdown aptly billed as ?Once and for All? today at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The mega-fight card featuring four title bouts will be aired on Solar Sports starting at 10 am.
Barrera and Morales seek to settle once and for all the old, burning issue that kept on haunting them, with their past two encounters being decided in controversial fashion.
During their first meeting at 122 lbs., Morales won via split decision in 2000?s Fight of the Year, but Barrera shot back at his Tijuana-native tormentor in their 2002 rematch at 126 lbs.
This time, the bitter ring nemesis want to end their long standing grudge at 130 lbs., where Morales is the crowned king by the World Boxing Council.
Morales, nicknamed ?El Terible?, has incessantly been claiming to win via stoppage over the ?Baby-Faced Assassin? from Mexico.
?I would be very happy to knock him out,? said Morales, who is tagged an 8-5 favorite by Las Vegas oodsmakers.
Barrera, however, just scoffed at his rival?s undermining statement, saying that Morales hasn?t been able to produce a knockout win his fellow countryman boasted in their past two meetings.
?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,? said Barrera.
?We bring out the best in each other inside the ring. The fans can expect an explosive and all action fight,? added Barrera.
Barrera, who wants to use this fight as a justification that his 11th round TKO loss to Filipino star Manny Pacquiao last year was just a mere slip, asserts that Morales has the advantage going into the battlefield.
?This is his weight. He definitely has the advantage. I will most likely go back down to 126 after this fight,? said Barrera.
Morales viewed it as nothing but a lame excuse.
?He?s already started the crying about how I have the weight advantage at 130. If he had a problem with the weight issue then he shouldn?t have accepted the fight. The fact is that he doesn?t deserve the fight. He hasn?t done anything to merit fighting for this title. I know he got knocked out by Pacquiao and beat Paulie Ayala after he was retired for two years,? Morales said.
Morales should better watch himself out as Barrera is likewise brimming with confidence that he will come out triumphant in their scheduled 12-round shootout.
?I have been working very, very hard. I worked four weeks in Mexico City and five weeks in Big Bear, California. I never have excuses before or after a fight. I?m here, and I?m going to win,? said Barrera.
?The champion Erik Morales will not be able to imagine what will be in front of him in our third encounter. 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.?
