By: James Blears
A fresco of Marco Antonio Barrera depicted as a Roman Emperor, is painted more than life size, on one of the the ground floor walls of the large building he owns in the Iztacalco district of Mexico City.
But far from standing on ceremony, Marco casually climbs the two more flights of stairs and arrives in the gym with his two and a half year old son Marco Jr perched on his shoulders. His older brother Jorge- an ex-boxer and their Father are already there, together with his trainer Rudy Perez and assistant trainer Sendai Tanaka.
Marco's already done almost eight miles of roadwork pre-dawn. Now has hands are carefully taped, he then climbs into to the ring and starts a shadow boxing routine throwing double and triple jabs, supported by hooks and uppercuts.
Next a gold pair of boxing gloves are applied and he starts to pound the large pad held in varying positions and at different angles by Sendai. It's noticeable that the mightier power shots come from Marco's left. No real surprise because although he's fought from a conventional stance since he was eight years old, he is naturally left handed.
The impact of some of the body shots which thankfully sink into the pad and not Sendai's ribcage or midriff knock him back a good yard. As the sweat drips from Marco's crewcut, and chin, he increases the tempo of power punches until the smacks and thuds seem to bounce of the walls and windows.
To finish off he climbs down from the ring and bobs and weaves around a small light highly mobile punch bag to perfect head movement and punch avoidance.
Marco freely concedes that he's never fought at super featherweight, but he'll make the best of it. Even now it would be now hard push for him to go down to the 122 super bantamweight division. He grins as he recalls Erik Morales telling him pre-fight one that if he...Marco, lasted more than four rounds he'd receive a sombrero. Marco adds: "I'm still waiting for that hat."
Marco is soon heading for the mountain ranges of Big Bear, where he'll stretch his lungs, his legs and a variety of sparring partners. It'll be a long haul because he'll stay there for more than a month, and only come back to sea level a couple of days before his third and final clash with Erik in the bout which has been billed ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Erik Morales is already in the high altitude Otomi Training Center, perched in the mountains above Toluca. to reach it, you have to brave deeply potholed mountain roads, often skirted by clumps of little white crosses which depict the fate of late night drivers who've not gone the full distance, but off the mountain road into the rock strewn valley far below.
The highlight of Erik's workout is a sparring session with rugged fellow featherweight and countryman Noel Cortez (23-5, with 14 KO's). Cortez willingly trades with Erik, duplicating the all action aggressive style of MAB. He often goes to the body and tries to pot shot Erik to the head. Erik draws him on to the ropes and then jolts his head back with a pinpoint left right combination. Cortez who's wearing a body belt under a thick sweatshirt and a thin plastic jacket absorbs the rib ticklers, although by the end of the session they're noticeably slowing him up.
Erik's already appears fight honed and at 130 pounds, he finally looks as though he's grown into his lanky frame. Removing his headguard, he works pads with veteran US trainer Al Stankie, who's been brought in from California to get him 110 percent ready for the ordeal ahead.
Erik doesn't see it this way. He says it's just one more fight, and that he's looking forward to taking on Manny Pacquiao next, before his move to the lightweight division. But significantly repeats that this time the fight with Barrera won't go the full twelve rounds. Erik's Father Jose hopes that Barrera won't either run or try spoiling tactics. He says if Barrera comes to stand and trade it'll be a short night's work for Erik.
Meanwhile Diego, Erik's younger bantamweight brother is sparring with a Venezuelan in the ring above. He's determined to be a world champion again. And Jose Morales confides that his youngest son Jose Jr at nineteen is well on the way to following in his brothers' glove prints.
Seeing this level of workload and commitment is one thing, but feeling the sheer intensity and willpower crackling in the atmosphere is quite another. More than with many other fights this final chapter of a Mexican classic boxing trilogy will also boil down to who has most pride, who wants it most, and who's prepared to dig the deepest to achieve it. The result will be etched forever in Mexican boxing lore. And both men know this only too well.