It’ll be more than third time lucky for either Marco Antonio Barrera or Erik Morales when they meet in a Las Vegas ring for the final competitive time this Saturday.

By now the Mexican duo are all too familiar with each other, having swopped hundreds of spite laden punches for 24 rounds. But what will be the decisive factor this time?

In their first encounter on February 19th 2000, Marco had an edge because making the 122 pound super bantamweight limit was a piece of cake for him, while it was sheer physical agony for the taller and more lanky Erik, who never attempted this category limit ever again.

Although it was a veritable slugfest, but many would agree that Marco’s punches carried just that little more zip and pep. Erik’s face, which often tends to swell up quite alarmingly around the eyes during long fights, bore testament to this. Yet the judges awarded the then undefeated Erik the decision. [details (http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=304)]

i had morales easily winning the 2nd fight, he was clowning on barrera. its obvious if morales doesnt listen to ignorant fans booing him for boxing intelligently hes going to beat barrera again. the right hands to the body were devastating, and that was a legit knockdown in the 2nd fight :D .

just gotta luv this fight just cuz these two dont like each other plain and simple :eek: better be a war :eek:

Are there going to be any undercard fights or will it just be Barrera-Morales?

Have to go with Morales at 130..I think he will be too big and too strong for barrera. Should be an all out war though. I wouldn't expect anything less from these two.

'The heart says Barrera, the head says Morales' - That is exactly how i feel about it. Morales has got to be the big favourite going into this bout but I'd love to see Barrera pull the upset off.

the heart and the head say barrera for me. morales is the man in form but i feel that marco feels he has more to prove in this fight. barreras been in this situation before as the underdog, people were saying he was finished too. i feel that this fight will show that barrera is still a top featherweight and i honestly feel he will beat morales. i dont think it will be clear cut though, even though i think barrera will win, morales has a great chance of winning and i see this one being close, just like their previous two encounters.

my head say EM has all the advantages, in weight, strength, speed and age, but my heart says the MAB can make it close and win on points...

If I had cash on the fight I'd go with Morales, but I would love to see Barrera bring it full swing. I think the weight isn't that big of a factor because Morales has always been bigger. The problem will be with his frame and reach abilities. His long jab is going to be more powerful and keep MAB outside, like he does with all his opponents. I don't think there will be a KO, but if there is, I'd say EM will be delivering it.

I think Morales is gonna stop the BABY in the late rounds, like PACMAN!

Same here my heart goes to MAB but my head says it's Morales. But I'll bet on MAB . . . AGAINST ALL ODDS. :D

Looks like Morales in this one. Barrera, I'm afraid, is past his prime.