By Jake Donovan - There reached a point when it was believed that boxing’s modern day version of the Fab Four was forever reduced to the Dynamic Duo. Manny Pacquiao still ranks as the very best fighter in the world, while Juan Manuel Marquez – even in the twilight of his career – isn’t very far behind.
Meanwhile, it was realized more than three years ago that Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales had no chance of ever catching back up with their former contemporaries.
Such a reality was once enough to convince the longtime rivals to call it a career. Barrera stepped away from the game following a lethargic points loss to Pacquiao in their October ’07 rematch, a couple of months after Morales was seemingly done with the game after coming just short to David Diaz in a failed bid to become Mexico’s first ever four-division champion.
But far be it for any proud warrior to sit idly and watch the game pass him by. So as Pacquiao and Marquez continued (and still continue) to add to their resumes, it was a matter of time before Barrera and Morales made their ring returns.
Barrera was the first to return, coming back 13 months after the Pacquiao rematch and more than a full year before Morales would elect to give it one more try.
Yet it’s Barrera who remains in a very distant fourth place, struggling to keep pace with his one-time peers.
At the height of their quartet, it was Morales who held the dubious distinction of serving as the group’s cellar dweller. The legendary Mexican boasted a record of just 2-4 against Barrera and Pacquiao, having never fought Marquez. [Click Here To Read More]
Meanwhile, it was realized more than three years ago that Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales had no chance of ever catching back up with their former contemporaries.
Such a reality was once enough to convince the longtime rivals to call it a career. Barrera stepped away from the game following a lethargic points loss to Pacquiao in their October ’07 rematch, a couple of months after Morales was seemingly done with the game after coming just short to David Diaz in a failed bid to become Mexico’s first ever four-division champion.
But far be it for any proud warrior to sit idly and watch the game pass him by. So as Pacquiao and Marquez continued (and still continue) to add to their resumes, it was a matter of time before Barrera and Morales made their ring returns.
Barrera was the first to return, coming back 13 months after the Pacquiao rematch and more than a full year before Morales would elect to give it one more try.
Yet it’s Barrera who remains in a very distant fourth place, struggling to keep pace with his one-time peers.
At the height of their quartet, it was Morales who held the dubious distinction of serving as the group’s cellar dweller. The legendary Mexican boasted a record of just 2-4 against Barrera and Pacquiao, having never fought Marquez. [Click Here To Read More]
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