Fantastic fighters, like someone has alreay said we were lucky to have them around in our era. Personally im a Barrera man and cant put morales ahead of him, ive never bothered to do a top 100 all time, but I can see them both being ranked very highly. Barrera was definately the better of the two. Barrera - Morales 1 and 3 are 2 of my fav fights ever.
Same here man. I think their third fight is truly awesome, and has many qualities other than lots of action.
People often seem to think Barrera-Morales I and III were just Gatti-Ward style brawls, but for me they are perfect examples of the Sweet Science, the absolute peak of class, quality and excitement. Two proud, brilliant warriors, so evenly matched, so desperate to win, so skilled - its fights like those that MMA can never match. The Noble Art.
Barrera vs Morales III is one of the most technical action fights I think I've ever seen. You can almost see Morales brain working in round 7, where he finally starts to time Barrera's punches with his overhand right. That was the turning point in the fight for me, but before all that, Barrera was really putting on a dazzling display of combination punching and body attack. One of my favorite fighters of all time.
Barrera was brilliant against Jesus Salud, the fight before Hamed, where he put a marker on the task ahead for Hamed. Even Steward said during the commentary that Hamed was in for a tough nights work based on what he had just seen. I think Salud was southpaw as well. The fight after Hamed was also against a southpaw, Enrique Sanchez. He threw every punch possible against a lefty with effectiveness. His left hooks to the body were delivered with precision, his jab was brilliant, as was his straight right hand. Barrera's prime was from the Salud fight up until he ran into Pacquaio in late 2003. During that three year period he was a complete versatile fighter.
1. Simply mentioning Robinson is vastly downplaying Hamed's opposition, he did clean out the featherweight division unifying all belts and beating champs from lower divisions. Robinson was the cinderella man but a very good 1 with some excellent wins. 2. I think he was past prime simply because he became flat footed and started only looking for 1 punch hayemakers, which he'd lunge in on, where as he threw combos when younger. He also got slower. I think he just fell out of love with the game. Hamed would have beat a 1995 Barrera and not just because he was better in 1995 but because Barrera was more reckless 3. Actually I think Barrera-Morales 1 was Barrera's best win he completely battered and dominated Morales despite not getting the decision. The Hamed fight was more cautious and calculated, the Morales fight combined his newly aquired boxing skills with his old brawling ability.
I think he was past his prime by the second Morales fight, he looked faded and didnt want to engage as much at that stage. I think Barrera-Morales 1 was the last time Barrera really wanted to leave his guts splattered all over the ring after that he was Captain Cautious and Pacquaio exploited this
All time. I think he loses to at least the upper tier greats (and certain lesser regarded fighters) at all of the weights he's fought at, though 122 is far from stacked so he'd be among the top 5-10 best there.
If he beats Hatton, I'll give him much more credit for it than his win over DLH, I'll tell you that. I could see it being done, though I wouldn't favor him at the moment.
He looked far from faded against Morales for the rematch, and never engaged due to his choice of tactics. Nothing to do with not wanting to stand and trade because he was past his peak. He was clearly at his best at featherweight between 2000-2003. When was his prime in your opinion? Don't tell me at super-bantamweight. He was nowehere near as resourceful or versatile at 122lbs. His biggest wins weren't there either.
1. A fighter only want to go deep deep into the trenches so many times, this was Barrera's last time, I just don't think he wanted to leave his guts in the ring after the first war, after that he became the technician. To beat Morales he needed to be more agressive, I had him winning the rematch 7-5 but it wasn't the same Barrera from the first fight, physically he may have been the same but he didn't want any more wars and that detracts from him in 1 way and in another makes him better. 2. 2000-2001 at his absolute best, Morales 1 was his redemption moment, Hamed was his crowning moment, after that he bathed in his glory and dropped off a little. I think he showed he had both refinement and aggression in Morales 1. Thats a very different fighter to the man who lost to Jones and beat Mkkinney It should be noted 122 suits Barrera better than any other weight. He went to 126 to chase Hamed and to 130 to chase Morales. barrera also fought at his weigh in weight while Morales and Pacquiao dehydrated for the weigh in to add 10-15lbs on fight night It should also be noted that Pacman 2 and Marquez fights were a hell of allot closer than anyone gives MAB credit for. I had him edging JMM in a very close fight.