Marco Antonio Barrera Interview

Prepared by Patrick Kehoe: Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions presents "Once and for All" the third between Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, to be held at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on Saturday, November 27, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Question: Marco how has training going and how are you feeling?

Marco Antonio Barrera: We brought along a great team; camp was great and everything is going perfectly. We are covering all the bases and come November 27, the champion Erik Morales will not be able to imagine what will be in front of him.

Question: You have fought Morales a couple of times already, have you made any adjustments for this third fight?

Barrera: I am 30 years old, I don't think there are too many changes you can make. If anything I am more motivated and have more desire for this fight.

Question: Being that there is a weight difference in this fight of 4 to 6 pounds will Barrera's experience make up the advantage that Morales has in weight?

Barrera: There will be a little bit of everything experience and the weight factor and there will also be the will to win. Morales has been claiming he will be going in to win by a knockout and that's what's going to give the fans a great fight because we both have the will to win on November 27th.

Question: The first fight was at 122 and the second fight was at 126 and this one will be at 130. With the fights going up in weight every time is this going to be different. Do you feel you are going to be strong at 130?

Barrera: Yes, I think at 122 it was thee ideal weight for both of us, where it was equal. At 126 he had an advantage and of course, going up to 130 he has an advantage. We are taking all the necessary steps to make sure we are very strong at 130.

Question: Marco this fight resembles the first fight when no one gave you much of a chance to beat Erik Morales and people feel that Morales will likely win this fight because of the weight classification.

Barrera: That is exactly right, in the first fight at 122 a lot of people had Erik Morales the favourite and this is what gives me the motivation, the desire to compete and to show that that Pacquiao fight was just a slip and nothing but that. And on November 27 I will prove I am still the best Marco Barrera.

Question: You have a slight edge in the speed of your combinations but you basically have the same punching power; would you say?

Barrera: The power of both of us is about equal, yes; the difference between us will be in our mentalities. Since the moment that we accepted this fight my mentality has been on only winning. And that's what we are putting the effort toward here in training and we are having a great camp.

Question: Does fighting Morales kind of re-energize you again?

Barrera: Yes, definitely it does energize me. And I want to thank Richard Schaffer and Oscar De La Hoya for getting me this fight at this moment. I needed this kind of fight to show everybody and to get that kind of motivation... and we are going to show everyone on November 27.

Question: Have a lot of your fans been demanding or asking for this third fight or not?

Barrera: Yes, definitely this is something in the fans have been clamoring for. When my promoters came to me with a list of fighters, there were 4 or 5 fighters, we opened up a poll on our website and asked our fans who they wanted me to fight. Erik Morales was the name that came up the most. So that's why we made the sacrifice to go up to 130 pounds to fight Erik Morales to fight for our fans.

Question: Did you notice a difference when you went up from 122 to 126, a difference in your body, reacting differently?

Barrera: The difference was minimal. There was a difference especially on the inside, when you feel an opponents body on yours. But there wasn't that big of a difference like there will be right now, making the jump from 126 to 130. That is why I am putting in the extra effort and making all the sacrifices for my fans.

Question: Erik Morales has been predicting that he is going to knock you out. Do you have any prediction as to what you will do if you win or if you lose?

Barrera: If I remember correctly for the first fight Morales was going to knock me out before 3 rounds. It didn't happen. Come the second fight, he said he would take off his hat if I went past 5 rounds. I passed 5 rounds; I won! Now the third fight he's claiming the same thing again, that he's going to knock me out. That's what motivating me and making me strong and keeping me preparing hard. Everything has been going perfectly and we have sacrificed a lot of thing with our family but come November 27 you will see the winner: Marco Barrera.

Question: Erik Morales has stated last week in an interview that there are things that you do not forget. Like the press conference before the second fight, things that were said back and forth are things that he could never forget. How do you feel about that subject?

Barrera: It's about experience. That was years ago and you learn from mistakes, you mature and those are things that you cannot hang on to and dwell on for the rest of your life. On his behalf, he's learned to respect his opponent inside and outside of the ring.

Question: You mentioned that you are thirty years old can you explain the difference in Marco Barrera from when he was 25 till now at 30.

Barrera: In side the ring, boxing wise, it's very difficult to make changes or learn new things after so many years of boxing. Outside of the ring, I guess, I have matured. There have been experiences that have made me mature. You learn to forget and not go with the emotions of a fight where he said and you said and you respond. I think that due to the fans and this that all action takes place inside of the ring and not outside.

Question: Back in November in your fight with Pacquiao, it was a different Marco Antonio Barrera than we are accustomed to. Can you tell us a little bit about what happened to you on that night?

Barrera: It was a bad night. It was just one of those nights. Even the best fighters have them. If I was to bring up everything that happened outside of the ring before that fight it would sound like an excuse and therefore I don't want to. So we will leave that as a bad night but come November 27, it will be different. And that is why I am preparing so hard, so that you will see the Marco Barrera that you have all enjoyed and are accustomed to seeing.

Question: Is this going to be a war, an explosive fight or will there be more respect, boxing?

Barrera: There will be a bit of both, a bit of the first fight and a bit of the second fight, fighting like two Mexican warriors. But the fans can expect an explosive and all action fight.

Question: How important is this fight in terms of who is the best fighter of this generation?

Barrera: Definitely this is an important fight is one of the best fighters in Mexico, a three time world champion; we fought at three weight divisions so this is a very important fight. We are both one and one and this will determine who is the best fighter.

Question: If you were not a fighter but a critic how would your characterize Erik Morales as a fighter?

Barrera: As a great fighter and a very valiant fighter and as of today one of the best fighters from Mexico.

Question: At 30, having been a brilliant champion, what is his motivation to continue boxing at this point?

Barrera: It's a beautiful sport and I love it and it is a sport that challenges me. I have been down before from my defeat and have been able to pick myself up and put myself into a top position in the boxing world. And we want to show that once again, that I slipped in November but come November 27, then we will be on top of the boxing world.

Question: How would he describe the 130 pound division? Does he intend to stay there?

Barrera: The 130 is forming to become one of the strongest divisions, top division, I still feel that the 126 is a stronger division; as far as staying there we would have to wait until after the fight, but we are contemplating to going down to 126. And the reason we are going up to 126 is in appreciation of our fans.