Fights
Boxing DVD 1
Marco Antonio Barrera vs Erik Morales I
Marco Antonio
Barrera vs Erik Morales II
Fights Boxing DVD 2
Marco Antonio Barrera
vs Erik Morales III
Barrera vs Morales trilogy
The Barrera
versus Morales trilogy is one of boxing's most famous fight trilogies,
involving two of Mexico's most revered boxers, Marco Antonio Barrera
(nicknamed "The Baby Faced Assassin") and Erik "El Terrible" Morales.
Fight
History
Background
Barrera had been the WBO super bantamweight champion
in the mid 1990s. Morales, from his part, was undefeated and he had
won the WBC super bantamweight title, knocking out Daniel Zaragoza
(being the first person to do so) in eleven rounds in 1997. Promoters
soon began arrangements for a bout between the WBC and WBO super bantamweight
title holders.
First bout
The first bout took place on February
19, 2000, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas and
was televised on HBO Boxing. Morales was declared winner by split
decision, with scores of 115-112, 114-113 and 113-114 and captured
the WBO Super Bantamweight title. Many believed that Barrera deserved
the decision. This bout ws named as Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year
for 2000, before being named as the best Fight of all time in the
same year.
Second bout
The second bout took place on June 22,
2002, in MGM Grand Las Vegas, Las Vegas. After the impact their first
fight had on many of those that saw it, their second fight was made
a Pay Per View event.
This is often described as the most tactical
fight of the trilogy. Nevertheless, there were plenty of punches,
but with Barrera fighting a more technical approach, Morales opted
to use heavier punches, dropping Barrera to the canvas in the 7th
with a blow to the abdomen. Barrera was nonetheless declared the winner
by unanimous decision, with scores of 116-112 and 115-113 and captured
the WBC Featherweight title. Many believed that Morales deserved the
decision.
Third bout
The third bout of the trilogy was fought
at the Super Featherweight division. Morales had gone on to win the
WBC title in that division after defeating Jesus Chavez and Barrera
had lost recognition as world boxing champion after being defeated
by Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, so he moved up to the Super featherweight
division.