Prime Barrera vs Prime Marquez

marquez didnt struggle with a shot hes just easy to catch cold at the start

i think barrera would win but it would be close and wouldnt be unlike moralez vs barrera 1

 

Barrera wins, he was pretty much near shot and in the wrong weight class when they fought but I still had him winning by a narrow margin. Barrera is better defensively, faster, sharper puncher where as Marquez can be a little 1 dimensional and open to hooks.

 

Amen.

The general forum is doing their usual thing, hailing Marquez as better than both of the other two off one good win over Juan Diaz. Let's have it right, Marquez was hurt early in round 2 and he was getting tagged all night. It was not a flawless performance, just a flawless finish with that beautiful uppercut. Take nothing away from Marquez, though. He is neck and neck with the other two.

That said, at 126lb Barrera should be able to defeat Marquez when he was able to utilize his body attack. His hands were much faster, and his combination punching seems to be overlooked. Yes, Marquez's combination's are beautiful, but so were Marco's. It would be a hell of a fight, a really competitive one, but I think Barrera was more effective and less vunerable at his best as opposed to Marquez.

 

Marquez was also in the wrong weight class. Barrera was certainly more comfortable at that weight than Marquez at the time of the fight. Marquez only moved up for that fight, not because he was struggling at 126lbs.

If Barrera was near shot he would never have been as competitive as he was on the night. And he certainly wouldn't have lasted the 7th round when Marquez had him all over the place with power punches from both hands.

Marquez beat Barrera fair and square.

People tend to forget that Marquez wasn't at his best either. He's was nowhere near as nimble on his toes and as sharp and fluid as he was two years earlier against Polo. And apart from his three knockdowns against Pacquaio, his defense and counter-punching was solid throughout that fight. Take a prime Marquez and a prime Barrera against Pacquaio and you'll see who handles him easier, Marquez.

Marquez would always have beaten Barrera. If Marquez between 2002-2004 had fought a prime Barrera he would have beaten him. Not a domination, but a win nonetheless.

 

I think Marquez was better at 130 than he was at 126. I think Barrera was better at 126 than he was at 130. Barrera of '01-'03 at 126 was his peak IMO. Marquez was at his peak for the 2nd Pacquiao fight at 130 in '08. If they fought at 126, I see Barrera winning. If they fought at 130, I see Marquez winning. I find it hard to separate these guys, they were both that good at their best.

To the TS: Barrera was well past-prime against Marquez in their fight, but he was not "shot" by any means. Shot fighters don't push top 3 p4p fighters all the way. Roy Jones was shot against Glen Johnson and Joe Calzaghe, Mike Tyson was shot against Danny Williams, Roberto Duran was shot against William Joppy. Barrera had not declined to anywhere near that level by his fight with JMM.

 

I can't agree with that at all. Marquez better at 130lbs than 126lbs? Certainly more exciting in his fights with Barrera and the Pacman rematch. Not as fast, not as fluid in and out of range, and certainly leakier defensively. Marquez's best weight was featherweight. I think himself and Bertstain would freely go along with that.

Marquez's one sided wins against Peden, Medina, Polo, and the vast majority of the first Pacquaio fight clearly show him at his best. He pulled the trigger much quicker back then. I've noticed since around the time of the Barrera fight that he's been slowing down, although becoming more crowd pleasing.

 

Sorry, but Barrera wasn't shot in the Marquez fight. Not in his prime, but he still managed a very good performance, not the stuff of a shot fighter at all in that fight.

 

I disagree. The "vast majority" of the first Pacquiao fight? Not at all IMO. That fight has become the most misremembered in history, seemingly because Marquez got up from 3 knockdowns. I had Pacquiao winning the first fight by a point or two, Marquez winning the second by a point. Much like people claim Naseem Hamed's peak was in 1995, the basis for thinking Marquez's peak was 126 appears to be his better performance level - but his standard of opposition was weaker at 126, so of course he looked better. OK, the Barrera fight was not JMM's finest hour, but the Marquez who fought Pac second time round was the best version of JMM. He outboxed the world p4p#1, and Pacquiao was a far better fighter in 2008 than he was in 2004.

 

No matter how you present you case, I find your opinion quite ashtonishing. Marquez was clearly at his best at 126lbs. The evidence is in the fights. He was sharper, more use of the jab, more well rounded, and just better right across the board. And his rhythm was better as well. He boxed on the balls of his feet and was so much more mobile. He just looked youthful and fresher at 126lbs.

He's getting into wars these days because he's past his best. I would describe Marquez's style these days, since early 2007, as if he's fighting with concrete shoes on.

And another thing, he was clearly faster at 126lbs as well.

 

What are you talking about Marquez is far bigger. JMM was a HUGE Featherweight and was big at 130 and hes still a good size at 135. Barrera only went to 126 to chase Hamed and actually did weights/bulking to get upto 126, he went to 130 to chase Morales. Barrera is 1 of the few fighters to not weight drain, Marquez does and hes much naturally bigger.

Barrera has been a champ since 1995, been in countless wars and has been in decline since after he beat Hamed in 2001. Its obvious if you've watched his fights he was never really the same fighter after Morales 1.

Are you trying to tell me the MAb that nearly lost to Juarez is the same MAB who dominated Morales and thrashed Hamed?

 

He is getting into wars these days because he is fighting much tougher opposition. He was probably fresher at 126ln, but I think Marquez is a much more experienced and smarter technician at 130-135, and believe it or not, I think the version that fought Juan Diaz beats the version of Marquez that drew with Pacquiao. The opposition is getting tougher and bigger - that is why Marquez is getting into wars. Diaz is naturally bigger, as was Casamayor. Pacquiao and Barrera are the best two fighters he has ever fought, and that is why he got into wars with them.

 

Marquez moved up to fight Barrera not because he was struggling at 126lbs. You disagree? JMM was a huge featherweight, you on drugs?.

Berstain admitted that Marquez could still easily do 126lbs when he was at 130lbs. He's his trainer, and why would he tell lies with that. No reason to.

You're views are sometimes ridiculous. Marquez was a HUGE featherweight? Why, because he's now moved up a couple of weights, thus this proves he was a HUGE featherweight? You ain't got a clue.

 

At featherweight, where both were nearest to their primes, I'd give the edge to Barrera, but I would not be shocked to see Marquez repeat his win over Marco Antonio at 130. When they actually did fight, it was a clear win for Marquez despite the knockdown. Barrera was on the decline but not quite shot then.

Against 130-pound Pacquiao, prime or no, I give Barrera virtually no chance, where with Marquez it's a virtual coin toss.

 

Marquez was not a huge featherweight.