15 years ago: Morales defeated Barrera
Erik Morales, right, won in a split decision against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2000.
Thursday is the 15th anniversary of Erik Morales’ decision win over Marco Antonio Barrera, the first matchup of their legendary trilogy, regarded as one of the best in boxing history.
ESPN Stats & Information takes a look at the fight.
Top Things To Know
1. Morales was 35-0 and defending his WBC junior featherweight title for the ninth time entering his 2000 title unification fight with Barrera. Morales won the title in September 1997 with an 11th-round knockout of Daniel Zaragoza.
2. Barrera was 49-2 with a no-decision and seeking the third defense of his WBO junior featherweight Title. Barrera won the title for the second time in October 1998 with a fourth-round TKO victory over Richie Wenton.
3. According to CompuBox, Morales outlanded Barrera 319-299 in the bout and 290-272 in power punches. Barrera scored the only knockdown of the fight in Round 12, and at the final bell both men were bloodied and bruised. Morales won a controversial split decision with scores of 115-112, 114-113 and 113-114.
4. Ring magazine named the bout fight of the year and Round 5 of the fight was named round of the year. Morales would vacate his titles to move up in weight, which would result in the WBO “re-awarding” its title to Barrera.
5. Morales and Barrera would meet twice more, in 2002 and 2004. In both bouts, Barrera would avenge the earlier loss by defeating Morales in a unanimous decision (2002) and majority decision (2004).
The Buildup
Morales was rolling through competitors in the junior featherweight division throughout the mid-1990s. He won the WBC title in 1997 with an 11th-round knockout of Zaragoza. From 1997 to 1999, Morales made eight title defenses. Barrera was also a top-notch competitor in the 122-pound division, winning the WBO title in 1995 with a unanimous decision win over Daniel Jimenez. Barrera made eight defenses of the title before losing back-to-back fights against American Junior Jones, whom Morales defeated in 1998. Barrera would regain the title in 1998 with a fourth-round TKO over Richie Wenton and defend twice before the bout with Morales was agreed upon for Feb. 19, 2000.
Tale of the Tape
Morales Barrera
Age 23 26
Record 35-0, 28 KOs 49-2-1, 32 KOs
Height 5-8 5-7½
Weight 121 121.5
Reach 72 inches 70 inches
Stance Orthodox Orthodox
The personal animosity between the two was fueled by the claim that the winner would be the “Next Great Mexican superstar,” an unofficial title previously held by Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez. The fighters’ Mexican heritage and upbringing also played a major part in the buildup. Barrera was from Mexico City while Morales was from Tijuana, which already inspired geographical and class battles.
At the sports books, the undefeated Morales was a 3-1 favorite. At the weigh-in, both fighters were under the 122-pound limit; Barrera came in at 121.5, Morales at 121. The bout would take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and would be shown on HBO as part of its “After Dark” series.
The Fight
Although Morales was favored, it was Barrera who was the early aggressor. From what the crowd and analysts saw, it appeared as if Barrera had jumped out to the early lead on the judges’ scorecards. But nothing in the fight would compare to what was witnessed in the fifth round. Both men spent the three minutes firing punches at one another, and according to CompuBox, Morales landed 51 of 95 punches while Barrera landed 24 of 50. Despite the lower output, many believed Barrera took the round when he was able to connect with Morales, sending “El Terrible” into the ropes.
Punch Stats from Fight 1
Morales Barrera
*290-272 Morales in power punches
>>Source: CompuBox
Landed 319 299
Thrown 868 618
Pct. 37% 48%
The back-and-forth action would continue throughout the second half of the fight, with both fighters landing power shots and putting each on the ropes. But in true warrior fashion, both fighters took the punishment and fired back at his rival. In the final round, Barrera wobbled Morales with a couple of punches and seconds later, Morales’ knee touched the canvas. Morales said it was a slip, but referee Mitch Halpern ruled it a knockdown and in the eyes of most, it sealed Morales’ fate. Both fighters ended the way they started, throwing punches at a ferocious pace as the bell rang to signify the end of 12 brutal, bloody rounds of action.
When the judges’ scorecards were read, many did not expect to hear what came out from the microphone of Michael Buffer. “Duane Ford scores the bout 114-113 for Barrera . . . Carol Castellano scores the bout 114-113 for Morales . . . and Dalby Shirley scores the bout 115-112 for the unified champion by split decision . . . Erik “El Terrible” Morales!”
Morales became the new WBO junior featherweight champion and successfully defended his WBC junior featherweight title for the ninth and final time.
The Aftermath
The immediate discussion of the fight was more about the verdict than the fight itself. The men would face off twice more in their careers. In the 2002 rematch, many believed Morales won the bout, but it was Barrera who won, according to the judges, by unanimous decision. The rubber match took place in 2004, and once again it was Barrera who was victorious by majority decision.
Morales would compete until 2012, when he lost back-to-back bouts to current light welterweight champion Danny Garcia. Morales finished his career with a record of 52-9 and world title reigns in four different weight classes.
Barrera competed until 2011, but lost important bouts against Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan. He finished his career with a record of 67-7 with a no-decision and title reigns in three different weight classes.
Erik Morales, right, won in a split decision against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2000.
Thursday is the 15th anniversary of Erik Morales’ decision win over Marco Antonio Barrera, the first matchup of their legendary trilogy, regarded as one of the best in boxing history.
ESPN Stats & Information takes a look at the fight.
Top Things To Know
1. Morales was 35-0 and defending his WBC junior featherweight title for the ninth time entering his 2000 title unification fight with Barrera. Morales won the title in September 1997 with an 11th-round knockout of Daniel Zaragoza.
2. Barrera was 49-2 with a no-decision and seeking the third defense of his WBO junior featherweight Title. Barrera won the title for the second time in October 1998 with a fourth-round TKO victory over Richie Wenton.
3. According to CompuBox, Morales outlanded Barrera 319-299 in the bout and 290-272 in power punches. Barrera scored the only knockdown of the fight in Round 12, and at the final bell both men were bloodied and bruised. Morales won a controversial split decision with scores of 115-112, 114-113 and 113-114.
4. Ring magazine named the bout fight of the year and Round 5 of the fight was named round of the year. Morales would vacate his titles to move up in weight, which would result in the WBO “re-awarding” its title to Barrera.
5. Morales and Barrera would meet twice more, in 2002 and 2004. In both bouts, Barrera would avenge the earlier loss by defeating Morales in a unanimous decision (2002) and majority decision (2004).
The Buildup
Morales was rolling through competitors in the junior featherweight division throughout the mid-1990s. He won the WBC title in 1997 with an 11th-round knockout of Zaragoza. From 1997 to 1999, Morales made eight title defenses. Barrera was also a top-notch competitor in the 122-pound division, winning the WBO title in 1995 with a unanimous decision win over Daniel Jimenez. Barrera made eight defenses of the title before losing back-to-back fights against American Junior Jones, whom Morales defeated in 1998. Barrera would regain the title in 1998 with a fourth-round TKO over Richie Wenton and defend twice before the bout with Morales was agreed upon for Feb. 19, 2000.
Tale of the Tape
Morales Barrera
Age 23 26
Record 35-0, 28 KOs 49-2-1, 32 KOs
Height 5-8 5-7½
Weight 121 121.5
Reach 72 inches 70 inches
Stance Orthodox Orthodox
The personal animosity between the two was fueled by the claim that the winner would be the “Next Great Mexican superstar,” an unofficial title previously held by Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez. The fighters’ Mexican heritage and upbringing also played a major part in the buildup. Barrera was from Mexico City while Morales was from Tijuana, which already inspired geographical and class battles.
At the sports books, the undefeated Morales was a 3-1 favorite. At the weigh-in, both fighters were under the 122-pound limit; Barrera came in at 121.5, Morales at 121. The bout would take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and would be shown on HBO as part of its “After Dark” series.
The Fight
Although Morales was favored, it was Barrera who was the early aggressor. From what the crowd and analysts saw, it appeared as if Barrera had jumped out to the early lead on the judges’ scorecards. But nothing in the fight would compare to what was witnessed in the fifth round. Both men spent the three minutes firing punches at one another, and according to CompuBox, Morales landed 51 of 95 punches while Barrera landed 24 of 50. Despite the lower output, many believed Barrera took the round when he was able to connect with Morales, sending “El Terrible” into the ropes.
Punch Stats from Fight 1
Morales Barrera
*290-272 Morales in power punches
>>Source: CompuBox
Landed 319 299
Thrown 868 618
Pct. 37% 48%
The back-and-forth action would continue throughout the second half of the fight, with both fighters landing power shots and putting each on the ropes. But in true warrior fashion, both fighters took the punishment and fired back at his rival. In the final round, Barrera wobbled Morales with a couple of punches and seconds later, Morales’ knee touched the canvas. Morales said it was a slip, but referee Mitch Halpern ruled it a knockdown and in the eyes of most, it sealed Morales’ fate. Both fighters ended the way they started, throwing punches at a ferocious pace as the bell rang to signify the end of 12 brutal, bloody rounds of action.
When the judges’ scorecards were read, many did not expect to hear what came out from the microphone of Michael Buffer. “Duane Ford scores the bout 114-113 for Barrera . . . Carol Castellano scores the bout 114-113 for Morales . . . and Dalby Shirley scores the bout 115-112 for the unified champion by split decision . . . Erik “El Terrible” Morales!”
Morales became the new WBO junior featherweight champion and successfully defended his WBC junior featherweight title for the ninth and final time.
The Aftermath
The immediate discussion of the fight was more about the verdict than the fight itself. The men would face off twice more in their careers. In the 2002 rematch, many believed Morales won the bout, but it was Barrera who won, according to the judges, by unanimous decision. The rubber match took place in 2004, and once again it was Barrera who was victorious by majority decision.
Morales would compete until 2012, when he lost back-to-back bouts to current light welterweight champion Danny Garcia. Morales finished his career with a record of 52-9 and world title reigns in four different weight classes.
Barrera competed until 2011, but lost important bouts against Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan. He finished his career with a record of 67-7 with a no-decision and title reigns in three different weight classes.
..nothing fuels a fight than fighters who dont like each other 
and started landing some heat.