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Marco Antonio Barrera
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Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia (born January 17, 1974 in Mexico City) is a Mexican
professional boxer. He is a four time world champion in three different weight classes; he is a former world champion at WBO Super Bantamweight (122 lb), IBO / WBC Featherweight (126 lb), WBC Super Featherweight (130 lb) and IBF Junior Lightweight (130 lb) divisions. He ranks # 43 on ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers Of All Time ahead of Pernell Whitaker, Carlos Monzon, Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Erik Morales, and Mike Tyson
Career history
Amateur careerAs an amateur, Barrera had a record of 56-4 and was a five-time Mexican national champion.
Championship titleBarrera was 15 years old when he defeated David Felix by a knockout in round two on November 22, 1989. The victory marked the beginning of a 43 fight win streak.
In 1990, Barrera had seven fights, including his first rise in quality opposition, when he defeated veteran Iván Salazar, by a decision in eight rounds. In 1991, he had seven more fights, defeating boxers Abel Hinojosa, Javier Díaz and others.
Barrera began 1992 by winning his first professional title, defeating Justino Suárez by a decision in twelve rounds to win the Mexican national Super Flyweight championship. He retained the title three times before the end of the year which helped improved his ranking in the Super Flyweight division. He defeated Abner Barajas by a decision in ten rounds, and Angel Rosario by a knockout in six rounds.
In 1993, Barrera had six bouts, winning each. He defeated Salazar in a rematch and retained his title against Noe Santillana and among others.
By 1994, Barrera was attending University to become a lawyer and also continued his boxing career. On April 13, he defeated future champion Carlos Salazar by a ten round decision in Argentina. He also defeated former world champion Eddie Cook before the end of the year.
Barrera began 1995 by fighting for a world title. In March 31, he became the WBO world Super Bantamweight champion by defeating Puerto Rican boxer Daniel Cobrita Jiménez by a decision in twelve rounds at Anaheim, California. By this time, many boxing journalist were calling Barrera "Mexico's next Julio César Chávez." He made four defenses before the year was over, including a two round knockout win against future champion Frank Toledo, a first round knockout win over Maui Díaz and a twelve round decision win over another future champion Agapito Sánchez.
On February 6, 1996, he fought on the first installment of HBO Boxing's spin-off series "HBO Boxing After Dark". He was knockdown by former champion Kennedy McKinney, but he recovered off the floor to knockdown McKinney five times and retain the title by a knockout in round twelve.
After the McKinney fight, he defeated former world champions Jesse Benavides and Orlando Fernandez before suffering his first loss and losing his title to American boxer Junior Jones, by a disqualification in round five. Barrera was knockdown in round five by what appeared to be a punch by Jones, he was declared the loser by disqualification and not by knockout because his managers climbed onto the ring to stop the fight.
In April 18, 1997, he was given a chance to retain his title, facing Jones in a rematch in Las Vegas. Barrera was defeated by a unanimous decision and retired from boxing.
Comeback trailBarrera announced a comeback in 1998, and he started off by defeating Angel Rosario by a knockout in round five. After two more wins, he was given another opportunity to fight for a world title by the WBO. On October 31, he became two time world Featherweight champion by defeating Richie Wenton by a knockout in three rounds, winning the WBO's vacant title.
In 1999, he had two title defenses and then he ran in to controversy. On December 18, he defeated César Najera in four rounds at California. But upon finding out that Najera had a losing record and was part of Barrera's team, the California State Athletic Commission decided to rule the fight a no contest bout.
Barrera vs. Morales
In March 2000, Barrera was defeated in twelve rounds by WBC's world Super Bantamweight champion Erik Morales, to a split decision.
Defending his titleBarrera defended his Super Bantamweight title three times, defeating Luiz Freitas by a knockout in round one, former world champion Jesús Salud in six rounds, and he also scored a win over José Luis Valbuena.
In 2001, Barrera moved up in weight division. In April 7, he handed British boxer Naseem Hamed his first and only loss for the WBO Featherweight title by a twelve-round decision.
On September 8, 2001, he defeated former champion Enrique Sanchez.
In June 22, 2002 Barrera defeated Morales in a rematch, for the WBC Featherweight title, winning by unanimous decision. In November 7, he also defeated former five-time world champion Johnny Tapia by a 12 round unanimous decision.
Barrera got his 60th career fight on April 12, 2003, defeating former world champion Kevin Kelley by a knockout in round four to retain the Ring Magazine's world Featherweight title.
Barrera vs. Pacquiao IIn November 7, 2003, Barrera was defeated by Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao in an eleven round knockout at San Antonio, Texas.
Bouncing backIn June 19, 2004, Barrera defeated former two time world Bantamweight champion Paulie Ayala in Los Angeles. Barrera won the fight by a ten round knockout against Ayala.
On November 27, he fought Morales for the third time. Barrera became a three time division world champion by defeating Morales in a majority decision.
On April 9, 2005, Barrera retained the WBC Super Featherweight title with a second round knockout against Mzonke Fana in El Paso, Texas, this win also marked Barrera's 60th career win.
On September 17 of the same year, he unified his WBC Super Featherweight title with the IBF World Junior Lightweight title version by defeating the IBF world champion Robbie Peden by a twelve round unanimous decision, in Las Vegas.
Barrera vs. Juárez In May 20, 2006, Barrera defended his title against American boxer Rocky Juárez with what was announced immediately after the fight as a twelve-round draw, which the judges scored 115-113, 113-115, and 114-114. However, tabulation errors were found in the judges' scorecards, leading to a final score of 115-114, 114-115, and 115-114, a split decision in favor of Barerra. He fought Juárez in a rematch bout in September 16, this time Barrera won by a unanimous decision with scores of (117-111, 115-113, 115-113).
Barrera vs. Márquez On March 17, 2007 Barrera lost his WBC Super Featherweight title to fellow Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Márquez by unanimous decision. Though Barrera claimed that the judges and referee were wrong, because he knocked down Márquez in the seventh round and the referee ruled it a slip.
Barrera vs. Pacquiao II Barrera fought Pacquiao in a rematch bout for the WBC International Super Featherweight title on October 6, 2007 in Las Vegas. Barrera was defeated by a unanimous decision with scores of 118-109, 118-109, 115-112. After the match, Barrera expressed his desire to retire from boxing, however no official confirmation has been made. On February 13, 2008, Barrera announced to the media that he would fight the winner of the Márquez vs. Pacquiao bout on March 15. The winner of this turned out to be Pacquiao, in a highly disputed split decision. However, Pacquiao's move to the lightweight division and subsequent capture of the WBC lightweight title makes a rematch unlikely unless one of the potential combatants is willing to make a move weight divisionwise.
Return to the ringAccording to BoxRec Barrera is set to fight in September in Mexico.
Outside the ring Barrera's fights are promoted by Oscar de la Hoya under the organization of Golden Boy Promotions. He trains at De La Hoya's training facility in Big Bear, California.
See also
External links
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