By: James Blears
Who would've ever thought it?
Marco Antonio Barrera has accepted the famous and prestigious WBC green belt for his super featherweight triumph over Erik Morales.
Following Marco and Erik's previous fluctuating featherweight war in 2002, Marco who's been a WBO fighter for most of his career, fairly bluntly and undiplomatically declined the WBC belt, much to the ire of World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman.
And it was burly presence of Mauricio Sulaiman who seperated the two habitual foes after world war three, following the now infamous water bottle throwing incident via Erik, which gave Marco's Father Jorge Barrera Sr a right sousing.
Erik has been the 100 percent loyal and faithful fighter for the WBC winning all of his three world titles in different categories under their banner. Although it also has to be said that Marco was ranked quite highly by the WBC in the first portion of his career, and also more recently.
But fair is fair, and Mauricio was again on hand, this time to give Marco a well deserved belting, attaching the green leather around the new champion's slim waist.
In his acceptance speech in a downtown Mexico City hotel, Marco acknowledged he'd previously not given the WBC the full attention merits...also wryly adding...better late than never.
The whole Barrera clan was out in full force including Marco's wife, two young children, his mother, his father, his brother Jorge, his sister Sandra and his trainers Rudy Perez and Sendai Tanaka.
Mauricio deputised for Jose Sulaiman explaining his father is attending some important family business.
Unsurprisingly Erik was also a no show.
Golden Boy Promotions Executive Vice President Raul Jaimes was there to laud Marco's praises. But there's been no announcement of who he'll fight next, although Marco says it'll probably be in March or April.
Marco has also ruled out a fourth slugfest with Erik. But as former champion Raul Raton Macias shrewdly observed never say never when the fans are lapping it up and there's lots of cash involved.
