Orlando is definitely the more skilled and talented fighter. MAB wasnt completely polished yet at 122. MAB's size and strength is just one factor...As much as Canizlaes has to deal with that, Barerra has deal with a very skilled and technically superior fighter. I dont think Im brave enough to pick Orlando here...But to write a fighter like him off is madness.
Mainly because when you go back in time, every division had a formidable opponent in it's class. Gomez had to face Sanchez in moving up, Zarate had to face Gomez, Olivares had Arguello, etc. Pacquiao wouldn't have been to successful in moving up either had those guys been around, not in my judgment anyhow. Barrera, for all of his talent, was not the finished article, whereas Orlando was an experienced campaigner, a terrific talent. It'd be interesting.
I pretty much agree here, although I think Marco had techical ability of his own, especially later on in his career. I have to go with Marco, it was his weight division and he was fresh, and Orlando was past his prime and operating above his best weight. That said, Orlando was just to good to get blown away or outclassed.
I think Barrera was a very good puncher not on the level of a Zarate or Gomez but you forgot about his blowout wins over Toledo and Benavides both good fighters and former Champs. I really dont see anyone knocking out Canizales including Gomez or Zarate.
Addie i rarely meet someone who makes me 2nd guess my comments,but looking back at the Mckinney fight (a fight ive seen many times) I think I stand Corrected,Mckinneys jab was working pretty good for him and it did benifit Barrera to turn that into a slugfest( Wow what a fightatsch) Good post you wont hear me saying that to much. You know your ****:thumbsup
Both Toledo and Benavides, although they held bull**** titles, were nowhere in the class of an Orlando Canizales. Likewise, both of them were undone by body shots. A double left hook ending proceedings early for Benavides, whereas Toledo suffered two knockdowns as a result of body shots, before being blitzed on the ropes. A rightful stoppage on the part of the referee. Again, neither fighter on the same planet as Canizales.
Wow I think this is one of the 1st times ive totally agreed with you Asero. I said he had to many guns but I think the Bully factor has alot to do with it. Barrera was a real strong JF and knew how to mix his tactics in with his great combos and power skill etc.
Only with Barrera mate, he's my idol. :good Seen practically every fight of his...many times. We all have our favorites, you seem to know his time under the banner of the Great Western Forum fairly well yourself. Terrific little fighter, watching him getting taken out by Junior Jones is still painful too watch, 12 years on.
I dont think Orlando had that much more over Barrera in the Skills department. It is just that Marco chose to slug it out more often,But Barrera threw beautiful combos and I think had faster hands. Like I stated before Ive watched Marco from early in his career and he always had those technichal boxing skills, he just figured it would add something to his arsenal to start showing them. WHen he was young he still had the mentality of the"Mexican Warrior" .. As he matured as a fighter he started counterpunching and boxing more.
Marco Barrera is one of the outstanding combination punchers of the last 20 years in my judgment. He mixed it to body and head seamlessly, and rarely wasted a shot, which was very similar to an Orlando Canizales. The only real clear edge I give Marco though would be his hand speed, his combination's were often a blur at 122, never mind 126, where he was still exceptionally fast.
Addie Barrera was also one of my favorites. If you click on my profile you will see that hes listed along with about 10 other fighters as one of my favorites. Best fight i have ever seen live was Barrera/MoralesI . I lost money on that fight I put 100$ on Barrera and he was a 2to1 underdog, I was robbed along with Marco. I lost my voice for like 4 days after that fight. One thing I have to disagree with you on is Jesse Benavides man this kid was pretty damn good in his prime,he was past it when he fought Barrera and Kelly. He was robbed against Patterson and he was already passed it then. He blew out Seabrooks(who went 13 competetive rounds with Canizales) WHipped Jesus"Hawaain Punch"Salud in his prime(another forum fighter)and beat a good champion Greg Richardson. He was also an outstanding amatuer barely losing to Steve Mccory for a spot on the 84 team who won a gold medal, im sure Benavides would have too cause he was practically Mccorys equal. I think in his prime he would have been a very difficult opponent for Orlando. Maybe I shouldnt mention that Toledo shut out Canizales,since he was already at the end. He beat a good champion Botile to win the IBF title so Toledo wasnt exactly some kind of lower run of the mill contenders.
Point taken. Benavides may well have been an established fighter, but he was certainly at the end of his days when he met Marco, and had absolutely nothing to offer. Nothing. Likewise, Toledo would have been spanked from pillar to post by a half decent Canizales, never mind a peak version. Toledo was an average fighter who lost his title before anyone even knew he had it. Neither wins really mean a lot, they were just showcases for Marco's talent. You were at the Barrera vs. Morales I? That's the greatest fight of all time in my eyes, you're one lucky ******* to have seen it. Can you try and explain in so many words what it was like to be there?
Yey it was pretty wild! There was waymore Tijuana fans(MORALES) than Barrera fans I was with about 7 buddies and we were pretty split. I was talking **** to them Morales fans,cuz they wouldnt STFU. WE wereup in the Cheap seats 50$. There were alot of fights in the crowds,no one messed with us But im telling you fans are not exaggerating about the madness that goes on when you have to Mexican heroes going at it. I went for a beer before the main event and Cops had a row of guys hand cuffed and a small area taped off with blood and broken glass in the scene. Well you know what happened with the fighters and I was just screaming like a mad man throughout,and was only Pissed at the decision and my 100$ Loss or should i say 300$ loss. My Uncle went to the 2nd fight and they got into a mean ass brawl with these crazy Mexicano fans my Uncles and his buddies kicked the crap out of them. If you got a tape of the 2nd fight even Lampley makes note of the crazy fight up their during around the time of the tragic Rivas/? and a fight were Rivas opponent died. They even commented about the fan fight in Ring magazine(Gatti on the cover) about how nobody thought Rivas's opponent was really hurt that they thought the only death that might occur was the poor guys that got their ass beat in the stands. Any ways those guys deserved it they started it told my uncle "Chinga tu Madre" (Fu*k your mother) and one of those guys even hit my uncles friends wife. She had a black eye along with her husband. My uncle and his comprades took over and beat the **** out those guys. The cops wanted to arrest my uncle and his buddies but my AUnt threatened to sue the MGM and the Fans backed up my Familys claims. The MGM then Comped them to ringside seats The following month when i read it in ring magazine I told him about it and him and all his buddies all ran out and got a copy. They are fans but have never bought a Ring magazine in their life. Not to often a boxing fan gets mentioned in RIng magazine ha:rofl
Thought it was a good read myself, Fleaman. Anyone who was live at Barrera vs. Morales I deserves special consideration.