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A teenager who became a fighter. A champion who lost twice in a row. A loser who learned how to box. A boxer who became a legend. To describe Marco Antonio Barrera’s lengthy career is to adapt the tagline to “Gladiator.”
In a manner, Barrera is like Russell Crowe, an award-winning actor who has shown versatility and talent by taking on various roles. For each of Barrera’s incarnations, he has simultaneously endured reincarnation, retooling his career nearly as many times as another warrior who helped launch HBO’s Boxing After Dark ten years ago, Arturo Gatti.
In early 1996, Barrera’s stoppage of Kennedy McKinney – followed a month later by Gatti’s knockout of Wilson Rodriguez – established expectations of excitement from both fighters. But while Gatti prolonged his career by wearing the costume of a boxer, without fail he would revert to brawling. Barrera, in contrast, evolved into a more complete pugilist, cognizant of the idea that knowing the right times to stand and trade is part of the art of war. [details]
In a manner, Barrera is like Russell Crowe, an award-winning actor who has shown versatility and talent by taking on various roles. For each of Barrera’s incarnations, he has simultaneously endured reincarnation, retooling his career nearly as many times as another warrior who helped launch HBO’s Boxing After Dark ten years ago, Arturo Gatti.
In early 1996, Barrera’s stoppage of Kennedy McKinney – followed a month later by Gatti’s knockout of Wilson Rodriguez – established expectations of excitement from both fighters. But while Gatti prolonged his career by wearing the costume of a boxer, without fail he would revert to brawling. Barrera, in contrast, evolved into a more complete pugilist, cognizant of the idea that knowing the right times to stand and trade is part of the art of war. [details]