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| Sensationally, Marco Antonio Barrera performed another miracle in the ring tonight as he became a world champion of three weight classes by taking bitter rival Erik Morales’ WBC and IBF super featherweight titles in a true classic of the ring. |  |
In a fight that perhaps eclipses the excitement and intensity of their first meeting contested back in the year 2000, Barrera and Morales gave boxing another war and one so fitting to the marvellous careers of both men. Morales looked incredibly dejected as expected at the announcement of the decision but surely he will go on to compete in great fights as he showed the heart of a true warrior. Barrera though was almost unstoppable and once again, just as he did in his fight against Naseem Hamed, Barrera competes in his first fight at a new weight and defeats perhaps the best fighter at the weight. Barrera has now won two of the three fights with Morales and has proven that he still deserves to be reckoned as a great fighter. Read on for the round by round account of this classic fight.
Round one: This is a Barrera round as he come sout hard and fast towards Morales, landing many hard shots. Morales looks far more controlled behind the jab but Barrera storms back to hurt Morales back with a huge flurry of punches towards the end of the round.
Round two: Morales takes this round as both trade huge shots. Barrera does good work to the body but it is Morales who is doing the real damage behind his jab and he hurts Barrera with a succession of powerful straight right hands.
Round three: The round begins in a much quieter fashion as the two fighters jab at one another. Suddenly, the action heats up as they both land combinations and the crowd knows they are witnessing a true war. Morales’ nose might be broken and there is blood showing from it as he is hurt over and over again by Barrera’s torrents of punishment.
Round four: Morales takes this round behind his jab and strong right hands. Barrera lands good short punches inside right to the end of the round but it is probably not enough to take the eye away from Morales’ excellent work for the majority of the round.
Round five: Barrera looks authoritative on the inside and on the outside, he beats Morales against the ropes with a succession of punches but Morales finds it within himself to compose his work and start to retaliate with jabs and right hands that have Barrera backing up.
Round six: Barrera takes this round because he lands so many hard shots that have Morales hurt and in trouble. Morales really takes a beating from Barrera in this round, he is knocked from one end of the ring to the other by Barrera’s incessant pressure.
Round seven: Morales amazingly, after what he has just taken in the sixth, roars back to take this round at range with lots and lots of devastating right hand punches that might have felled a lesser fighter. Barrera cannot even get into this round as Morales is so completely dominant and Barrera gets out of the round with a souvenir, a swelling around his right eye.
Round eight: Morales takes this round also with his excellent work behind the jab and his powerful right hands, Barrera looks to be in serious trouble at the hands of this increasing pressure. Morales is accurate and just keeps hammering away at Barrera with sharp punches.
Round nine: Barrera incredibly recuperates enough to take this round with excellent combinations. It seems to be predominantly Morales’ fight on the outside and Barrera’s fight on the inside. Barrera lands some sinister punches to the back of Morales’ head and at the end of theround both fighters almost keep going. they goad one another as the bad blood between the two is evident and referee Kenny Bayless has to get between them.
Round ten: Barrera steals this round with many two-handed attacks but Morales holds his own and a huge flurry from both sets us up for a grand finale.
Round eleven: This round is an absolute classic, a war from start to finish between two gladiators. Both fighters land in great volume and intensity. They truly beat one another back and forth relentlessly from one side of the ring to the other.
Round twelve: The fight is a war to the end. Barrera almost goes down twice and it is all he can do to stay on his feet as Morales is absolutely all over him. However, showing absolute fire, Barrera rises once again to bring the MGM Grand to its feet and the two exchange a frightening barrage of punches right until the referee has to get between them at the bell.
The decision from the judes is as follows: 115-113, 114-114 and 115-114 for the winner and NEW WBC/IBF super featherweight champion of the world, Marco Antonio Barrera!
