Feb 19 - HBO 11:00 pm
Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera
For Morales' WBC super bantamweight title and Barrera's WBO super
bantamweight title
Make no doubt about it, this fight will be a barn burner for as long as it lasts. Both men
have good power. Both men have never been stopped. Both men are world champions and are
putting their respective belts on the line.
Now for the million dollar question . . . who will prevail?
The TRUE champion will prevail. That would be Erik. . . Let me elaborate.
In Erik's last outing to the tough and former world champion Wayne McCullough, he proved
himself a true champion. In a grueling 12 round war, Eric ended the evening in a bout I
consider to be one of the best of 1999. Erik has always performed well and prepares well
for his bouts. He has excellent power and owns stoppages over the likes of Angel Chacon
(KO in 2 Feb 99 ), Juan Carlos Ramirez (KO in 10 May 99 as
predicted) and Reynante Jamili (KO in 6 Jul 99 as
predicted). In sparring with Floyd Mayweather in Floyd's preparation for the Gerena
fight last Sep, it was rumored Erik was doing damage to Floyd's body and Floyd stormed out
of the gym fuming.
Marco is a champion in his own right too. I followed him early in his career, and remember
his first fights in the U.S. He was a regular fighter on "Fight Night At The
Forum" in L.A., and I watched this kid deemed "The baby Face Assassin" do
just that. His first fight in the states was for the Mexican Jr Bantamweight title. A
fight in which he dispatched a game Esteban Ayala in 4 rds Nov 92. I watched him clean
alot of unknown nobody's clocks, then in Mar 95, he scored an impressive 12 rd nod to
Daniel Jimenez for the WBO Juniorfeatherweight title.
His only impressive win since was a 12th round stoppage of Kennedy Mc Kinney in Feb 96.
Then he met Junior Jones in Nov of 96 who took his title by dq in 5. In the rematch in Apr
97, he lost the bid to Jones again by a 12 rd decision. Those pair of loses are Marco's
only blemishes on his career. But those two loses exposed that when faced with serious
opposition, Marco has a propensity to not perform and freeze.
Most important of all, who was the man Marco failed to have his hand raised to twice? Who
was the man who exposed the fact that Marco CAN be beat?
Junior Jones.
Erik fought Junior about 18 months after Junior beat Marco.
Only difference is, Erik stopped Junior cold in the 4th round in Sep 98.
This will be a fight of wills, with many huge exchanges and the body work will pay
dividends in the mid to late rounds for Erik. Marco's experience will get him through
about twice long as Junior did, but as Erik's body attack softens Marco's sides, and his
hands start getting tired, Erik will drop the monster combo and stop Marco for the first
time in his 52nd trip through the ropes as a professional.
Morales inside 8
In Retrospect:
Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera
Sorta as expected. This was no cake walk for Eric. He fought a strong fight, and
shouldn't of won by split decision. I watched it close at the ref Mitch Halpern was wrong
for ruling that 12th round slip a knockdown. That made a close fight closer to even.
What does it matter anyways, Morales never accepted the title, and the WBO has
re-instatted Marco as champion. In the words of Don King, Only in America!
