by James Slater – One time fierce archrivals Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera continue to fight in their mid-thirties, and the word is both Mexican legends could be back in action in September. 33-year-old Morales, who returned with a win decent points win over Jose Alfaro in March, is looking forward to his second comeback fight, and there is a possibility “El Terrible,” now a light-welterweight, could face Scotland’s Willie Limond in September (Boxing News magazine broke this story weeks ago)..
As for Barrera, he returned from his bloody 5th-round TD loss to Amir Khan (who, of course, fought the aforementioned Limond a few years back, being decked and hurt before recovering and getting the TKO win) last week, and out-pointed Adailton De Jesus over ten-rounds in San Antonio. Promoter Bob Arum was quoted as saying his plan was to move the 36-year-old quickly, and hopefully have him challenging for a version of the world’s lightweight title soon, and it seems this will be the case.
Because, according to Boxrec.com, Barrera’s chance at making history by becoming the first Mexican to have won world titles in four different weight classes will come on September 11th. According to the invaluable web site, “The Baby Faced Assassin” will challenge countryman and reigning WBC 135-pound ruler Humberto Soto in Mexico City in a little over two months time.
It’s not clear if Barrera, 66-7(43) will box a second tune-up before facing the 30-year-old champion, but if he doesn’t, and instead goes right in with Soto after only having had that easy night with De Jesus, fans will surely feel Marco is rushing things. Soto, 52-7-2(32) is a very good fighter, and he has won his last eight fights (since that ludicrous DQ loss to the undeserving Francisco Lorenzo, who “defeated” Soto in June of 2008 – Soto avenging the loss six months later). A former featherweight and super-featherweight champion, Soto, if he does face Barrera in September, will no doubt be a big favourite to keep his belt.
Still, Barrera appears to have more left than does Morales, and in terms of which of the two men has the better chance of reigning again, Marco probably fits the bill. And, as the saying goes, the great ones can often pull out one last great performance. Could Barrera perhaps wind back the years and upset Soto? If he is to win the WBC belt, it’s likely Barrera will have to do it on points. Soto, known as “The Crafty Little Fox,” has been stopped just once in his 62-fight career – this 11th-round retirement loss coming down at 126-pounds, way back in 2000.
A clever, sturdy and reasonably hard-hitting fighter (although, regarding Soto’s current power, he has not yet stopped a fighter at lightweight, suggesting he may not have carried his punch up with him), Soto will not want to lose his title to a veteran like Barrera. Wanting very much to be known as the type of Mexican legend Barrera and Morales are recognised as, Soto will carry real venom into the ring with him against Barrera.
Look for Barrera to give it his best shot, as always, before Soto takes control and cruises to a clear points win in what will be his second lightweight title defence.