After reflecting on what occurred this past weekend at the post-fight press conference I started to think. Imagine that, I used my brain.
From speaking with those in attendance, either they were Marco Antonio Barrera fans or Erik Morales supporters. Sure there was Juan Manuel Marquez fans supporting their guy but the emotional rivalry to that of the Tijuana native just isn’t the same. Just to make it clear, I’m not talking about fans of the fighting style of both men, I’m talking about fans of the fighters themselves.
In speaking with my colleague Ricardo Lois he stated, “Marco is just a real nice guy that talks with a lot of class.”
I retorted, “That’s nice and all but Morales is the realest! He’s honest all the time and has a certain demeanor that’s completely believable. Asshole and all, he provides that entertainment that most guys in boxing just don’t bring.”
Ricardo sneered and said, “Well you’re a rather unclassy guy yourself. I can see why you like “El Terrible”. Marco’s always been gracious when speaking with me. Not only that but he’s a true technician within the ring.”
I said, “Well you’re stupid. You’ve been fooled by the on-camera persona of Barrera. While I’m sure he’s a nice guy, there’s a reason for everything. I’m sure things have happened behind the scenes to make Erik hate his guts. Not only that, the ring shows the truth in a man and Barrera has reacted in some seriously questionable ways in his fights with Hamed, Pacquiao, and Juarez.”
Ricardo then rolled his eyes and continued to do what he does best, absolutely nothing.
I then thought about what it really was about Morales that intrigued me. I thought about what made me make the trek out to Las Vegas to see his scrap with Paulie Ayala. While it wasn’t considered a super fight by any means, the way “El Terrible” fights just does it for me. He makes easy fights hard and hard fights harder. He fights with a passion and emotion that I see from Barrera but I don’t feel it. When Morales taunts his opponent in the ring and goes nuts, it’s a very natural part of his persona. When Barrera does the same, it’s a conflict of good guy/not so good guy.
This boxing fan will be sad when “El Terrible” retires for the fact that he’s one of the realest to have ever done it, inside and outside the ring.
