Gangster Of Love
Master Don Juan
Hey peeps. Here's a review I wrote for my boxing website about tonite's fight. A little wordy, but I didn't want to butcher my work of art by choppin' O.J. stlye. Anybody have predictions?
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Morales vs. Barrera III: The Ali-Frazier of Mexico
By Mr. B
Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, the third installment, is to Mexican boxing what Ali vs. Frazier "Thrilla In Manilla" was to the heavyweight division back in 1975. While most experts are picking Morales based mainly on two factors, size and recent fights, Barrera is by far the only fighter known to have the ability to confuse and out-slug Morales.
Unless Barrera is totally shot (which many thought before their epic 2000 battle), this fight will come down not to size or recent fights, but to the main common opponent, each other. The first rounds will be round 25th of their long saga. Don't expect many new things. The real curiosity is which Barrera shows up Saturday night. Will he come out putting pressure like he did on back on February 19. 2000, or will he come out cautious and using his recently found '"boxing skills" to feel things up then open up.
Morales chance to win will happen if Barrera is more faded than blue jeans, and decides to mix it up early. "El Terrible" would then only need to hurt his opponent and finish him off, not an easy task against a tough customer like Barrera, who just won't go away after the first bump on the road. Physical strength and youth would favor Morales slightly, even tough he himself has absorbed his share of wars in the past few years.
Barrera will win if he is able to sustain pressure for twelve rounds and commits to a relentless body attack from the outset. Back in the first fight he didn't mind getting hit as long as he could continue to pound on the taller, lankier Morales. This time the real question is if he still has the stamina and determination to be willing to take a necessary shot or two.
While most sequels don't live up to the original, both Morales and Barrera will come out and give all they have. It is in their blood, in their soul, and in the hearts of the millions of boxing fans, specially from the boxing rich culture that has produced some of the world's best like Julio Cesar Chavez, "Chiquita" Gonzalez, Ricardo Lopez, Lupe Pintor, Daniel Zaragoza, and many more, who all had one common denominator, the unique combination of Brains & HUEVOS.
As in the days leading to their first fight, I've had a hard time coming up with a prediction for this one. Over the last few years, while having interviewed them many times, they both became "Friends of the Jungle," my boxing website. They are both my two favorite fighters. My loyalty has always been split. Once again, Barrera, who was born about a week after I was, who came up with Forum Boxing Inc. here in Los Angeles in the early 90's, and who captured everyone's heart with his Chavez-like style of breaking down opponents, while taken hard shots, is the underdog, and most people's sentimental favorite.
Morales is from Tijuana, Mexico, the same town I lived as a child. While I thought he came across as arrogant when I first saw him, well, honestly I couldn't stand the man, once I got to know him a little, he always showed us how down to earth and humble he really is. "El Terrible" became, by far, my very favorite interview. This guy would say things into my tape recorder that he wouldn't say to the TV cameras. Always one to speak his mind, and one to remember you the next time he saw you, he took a different road to win me as a fan. Now, along with Barrera, he is my favorite fighter, not only because of his ring accomplishments, but also because of his character and personality.
So now for the prediction. This fight's parallels to the first are so scary that it would only make sense I make a similar prediction. In the first fight, with Morales as a big betting favorite, I wrote how in Barrera, he would find the first fighter who would actually fight back when he attacked. He wouldn't fold, and he would give his life for the pride and stakes involved in the outcome. The same thing will happen in their rubbermatch almost 5 years later. More than anything, styles make fights, and this one is no exception. Barrera still has the style to give Morales fits, he did back in 2000, 2002, will on November 27, and if they fight when they are both 80 years old. Pick: Barrera by 12 round split decision.
****************************************************
Morales vs. Barrera III: The Ali-Frazier of Mexico
By Mr. B
Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, the third installment, is to Mexican boxing what Ali vs. Frazier "Thrilla In Manilla" was to the heavyweight division back in 1975. While most experts are picking Morales based mainly on two factors, size and recent fights, Barrera is by far the only fighter known to have the ability to confuse and out-slug Morales.
Unless Barrera is totally shot (which many thought before their epic 2000 battle), this fight will come down not to size or recent fights, but to the main common opponent, each other. The first rounds will be round 25th of their long saga. Don't expect many new things. The real curiosity is which Barrera shows up Saturday night. Will he come out putting pressure like he did on back on February 19. 2000, or will he come out cautious and using his recently found '"boxing skills" to feel things up then open up.
Morales chance to win will happen if Barrera is more faded than blue jeans, and decides to mix it up early. "El Terrible" would then only need to hurt his opponent and finish him off, not an easy task against a tough customer like Barrera, who just won't go away after the first bump on the road. Physical strength and youth would favor Morales slightly, even tough he himself has absorbed his share of wars in the past few years.
Barrera will win if he is able to sustain pressure for twelve rounds and commits to a relentless body attack from the outset. Back in the first fight he didn't mind getting hit as long as he could continue to pound on the taller, lankier Morales. This time the real question is if he still has the stamina and determination to be willing to take a necessary shot or two.
While most sequels don't live up to the original, both Morales and Barrera will come out and give all they have. It is in their blood, in their soul, and in the hearts of the millions of boxing fans, specially from the boxing rich culture that has produced some of the world's best like Julio Cesar Chavez, "Chiquita" Gonzalez, Ricardo Lopez, Lupe Pintor, Daniel Zaragoza, and many more, who all had one common denominator, the unique combination of Brains & HUEVOS.
As in the days leading to their first fight, I've had a hard time coming up with a prediction for this one. Over the last few years, while having interviewed them many times, they both became "Friends of the Jungle," my boxing website. They are both my two favorite fighters. My loyalty has always been split. Once again, Barrera, who was born about a week after I was, who came up with Forum Boxing Inc. here in Los Angeles in the early 90's, and who captured everyone's heart with his Chavez-like style of breaking down opponents, while taken hard shots, is the underdog, and most people's sentimental favorite.
Morales is from Tijuana, Mexico, the same town I lived as a child. While I thought he came across as arrogant when I first saw him, well, honestly I couldn't stand the man, once I got to know him a little, he always showed us how down to earth and humble he really is. "El Terrible" became, by far, my very favorite interview. This guy would say things into my tape recorder that he wouldn't say to the TV cameras. Always one to speak his mind, and one to remember you the next time he saw you, he took a different road to win me as a fan. Now, along with Barrera, he is my favorite fighter, not only because of his ring accomplishments, but also because of his character and personality.
So now for the prediction. This fight's parallels to the first are so scary that it would only make sense I make a similar prediction. In the first fight, with Morales as a big betting favorite, I wrote how in Barrera, he would find the first fighter who would actually fight back when he attacked. He wouldn't fold, and he would give his life for the pride and stakes involved in the outcome. The same thing will happen in their rubbermatch almost 5 years later. More than anything, styles make fights, and this one is no exception. Barrera still has the style to give Morales fits, he did back in 2000, 2002, will on November 27, and if they fight when they are both 80 years old. Pick: Barrera by 12 round split decision.
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