Can Barrera pull this one off?

[m00ks]

Barrera is going forward and when Morales ducks the left Barrera hip hits Morales on the face.

Did HBO show the replay at different angles?

[.::|ULTIMATE|::.]

Did HBO show the replay at different angles?

yup yup

[oldgringo]

That is a delicate fight to discuss. Chavex DID hurt Morales in the first. He also injured his hand somewhere in the 3rd I believe and fought bravely with one hand. However, Chavez did get dropped twice when both of his hand we're healthy. I do think that Morales' defense has weaknesses that can be exploited but I don't think Barrera has the arsenal to make Morales pay.

Exactly...Barrera isn't a big enough puncher to seriously try out Morales' chin. Erik's chin often makes up for holes in his defense. That were someone like Corrales could get to Erik...although Corrales is a bit slower.

[chito]

Morales Wants To Do Away With Barrera 'Once And For All'
By Sean Stowell
(November 12, 2004)

Since their last meeting in June 2002, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera have been on different paths. On November 27, those paths will cross for a third and final time.

In their first bout, Morales won a disputed decision, and Barrera won a similarly disputed second bout. Since that last matchup, Morales has gone 6-0, while Barrera has gone 2-1. Morales has an edge in the level of competition he has fought since that time as well, having taken on Paulie Ayala, Eddie Croft, Fernando Velardez, Guty Espadas, Jesus Chavez and Carlos Hernandez. He defeated Croft, Velardez, and Espadas by knockout.

Barrera on the other hand defeated Johnny Tapia by decision, and knocked out Kevin Kelley in the fourth. He then lost a disastrous fight to Manny Pacquiao before coming back and stopping Ayala in the 10th. Of course questions lingered about whether or not Barrera was shot. He answered that with his performance against Ayala, but whether or not he is the same Barrera we saw two times before against Morales is another question.

One of those people is Morales's father, Jose, who questioned the necessity to fight Barrera for a third time.

"He saw what we both have done since our last fight," Morales said during a recent media conference call. "I've fought and beat guys like Hernandez and Chavez and he gets knocked out by Pacquiao. My father didn't think it was a good time to fight him. He thought Barrera should fight better guys then fight me again, so it would be a bigger fight.

"I've always respected my father's position, but I've always chosen my own fights, and I will be there on November 27."

Morales (47-1, 34 KOs) said the reason he's fighting Barrera (58-4, 41 KOs) is plain and simple, "the people want to see it."

The people may want to see it, but Morales definitely wants a clear decision this time around. While the decisions in the first two fights were disputed, he'd like nothing more than a decisive victory over his tormentor from Mexico City. The bitterness between the two stems from their very different upbringings in Mexico. Barrera is from an affluent family where he was studying to be a lawyer before his boxing career took hold. Morales comes from the poor border town of Tijuana which sits just south of California. He was born in a building owned by his father which served as the family's home and as a boxing gym.

Before their second bout the fighters had a brief tussle during a press conference in which Morales called Barrera a slang term for a ****sexual and Barrera called Morales an 'uneducated Indian.'

So with all the bad blood in the past, will the two ever become friends? Even Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier can be cordial to one another now.

"Being friends is overrated," Morales said. "I just don't even deal with that when it comes to him."

One thing he will have to deal with the criticism he is sure to face should he not win by dramatic KO ala Pacquiao.

"I'll be criticized if I don't KO him like Pacquiao and I will be criticized if it goes the distance," he said. "If I see an opportunity to knock him out, I'll go for it, and I'll be a lot happier if I am able to knock him out."

Also, there is the money factor. It is one of the bigger money fights for fighters fighting at 130 pounds. While financial terms were not disclosed, Top Rank vice president Todd DuBoef did say money was a huge factor in this rubber match.

"Economically both fighters have a lot to gain," he said. "The people have been asking for this. It's unfinished business."

They will be fighting for the WBC and IBF super featherweight titles held by Morales. Rumors are floating around that win or lose Barrera plans on going back down to 126, a plan that Morales says seems typical of his opponent.

"Some people don't like challenges," Morales said. "He's supposed to be smarter than me, so I don't know what he's doing."

Morales feels he will be much more productive at 130 pounds, as he is only focused on preparing for his opponent, not just making weight. He told the assembled media that he is stronger at this weight and he will be able to move more inside the ring.

"Fans will see an Erik they have never seen before," Morales said. "The people wanted to see this and I think we should get it all over with."

Morales-Barrera III will be shown on HBO Pay-Per-View from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, November 27.

THIS WAS AN ARTILE FROM MAXBOXING.COM THAT I WANTED IT TO SHARE WITH YOU, GUYS. I BELIEVE THAT MORALES WILL GO FOR A DEMOLITION JOB AS HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING HE'D BE CRITICIZED IF HE DIDN'T KNOCK BARRERA OUT LIKE PACQUIAO DID. WELL, IT WOULD BE LIKELY THAT HE COULD DO IT BECAUSE BARRERA WAS NOT LOOKING GOOD AND MORALES WAS NEVER BEEN THIS BETTER!

[t_tsuguri]

i think itll go all the way but morales will win a clear decision. i think itll be competitive tho with mab having his moments

[whdempsey]

He can do it, but I don't think he will. And at this point in their careers, I think Morales can do it better. Outboxing Morales won't do it, either. Remember, the second fight was controversial, and that was the only time Barerra "outboxed" Morales. In order to win convincingly, he'd have to brawl just like he used to, and t5ry to figure out a way to kayo Morales. Otherwise, Barerra will be the one on the mat.

[m00ks]

He can do it, but I don't think he will. And at this point in their careers, I think Morales can do it better. Outboxing Morales won't do it, either. Remember, the second fight was controversial, and that was the only time Barerra "outboxed" Morales. In order to win convincingly, he'd have to brawl just like he used to, and t5ry to figure out a way to kayo Morales. Otherwise, Barerra will be the one on the mat.

I don't think Barrera can KO Morales, he couldn't do it in 2 tries, I doubt it'll be different in the third, keeping in mind that MAB isn't the same fighter as before specially after the Pacquiao loss.

[MetalVomit]

I don't think Barrera can KO Morales, he couldn't do it in 2 tries, I doubt it'll be different in the third, keeping in mind that MAB isn't the same fighter as before specially after the Pacquiao loss.

I have a blind faith in Barrera, i hope he wins, but I doubt he will. I dont think he is going to prove me wrong.

[jujitsujn]

I'll take MAB in this one. In my opinion he won the first fight..barely, he won the second fight easily, and he will win this fight as well. He seems to frustrate Morales and think that will be the key.

[oldgringo]

He can do it, but I don't think he will. And at this point in their careers, I think Morales can do it better. Outboxing Morales won't do it, either. Remember, the second fight was controversial, and that was the only time Barerra "outboxed" Morales. In order to win convincingly, he'd have to brawl just like he used to, and t5ry to figure out a way to kayo Morales. Otherwise, Barerra will be the one on the mat.

I agree. Morales is on top of his game and Barrera hasn't had any experience at 130. God damn I can't wait for this fight.