Barrera v Morales
Round 1
Straight down to it no pissing about. Brilliant first round, plenty of trading and hard shots landed. Barrera ahead for most of the first part of the round but by the end it feels like Morales has got ahead and Barrera is waiting too long to get his shots off and missing while Morales picks him off.
Barrera 9-10 Morales
Round 2
Good first half from Barrera making Morales miss and landing good combinations and shots. Cuter and cleverer. Then they start to trade and Barrera begins to land the better harder shots as well, some good ones to the body especially. Again Barrera doesn’t do a lot in the last minute but has this round won already.
Barrera 19-19 Morales
Round 3
Morales getting off first and Lands some good shots in the first minute or so, Barrera choosing to pick him off with a few shots but falling behind. Barrera targets the body and digs some vicious shots in then they trade for most of the brilliant last minute, with Morales landing more for me.
Barrera 28-29 Morales
Round 4
A lull for the first half of the round a bit scrappy. Barrera probably does the cleaner work with Morales seeming to land on the gloves a lot. A tough round to score but think Barrera just did better work and got the better of the end of round trade off. Barrera has landed a few low ones in his pursuit of the body.
Barrera 38-38 Morales
Round 5
What a round. Morales batters him for 2 mins landing some great punches, then Barrera grits his teeth and turns it on its head briefly before a quieter last min with Morales on top again. Big round for Morales
Barrera 47-48 Morales
Round 6
Again a cleverer round from Barrera, it seems when he makes Morales come to him he’s able to pick him off, not as exciting but. Not a lot in the second half quite tough to score again. Could be even but think Barrera did enough in the first part of the round.
Barrera 57-57 Morales
Round 7
Morales dominant for the majority landing far more shots. A couple of good trade offs where Barrera has some success but easy one to score for Morales.
Barrera 66-67 Morales
Round 8
Some great action. Back and forth some great standing and trading at points. Barrera getting the best of it for me.
Barrera 76-76 Morales
Round 9
Barrera lands some big shots in the first minute, really hurtful stuff. Then Morales bosses the second minute landing some great stuff with little coming back. Morales looked in trouble right at the end after some hard shots from Barrera but still fired back. Really difficult to score. Barrera definitely landed the more damaging stuff, but Morales seemed to land more. Incredible round. Just think Barrera pulls it out at the end when he hurts him in the last 10 seconds.
Barrera 86-85 Morales
Round 10
Bit scrappy not a lot of clean stuff in the first half. Morales landing more. They then go toe to toe with initially Morales on top before being hurt again by some vicious Barrera punches. Morales then finishes the round better
Barrera 95-95 Morales
Round 11
All Morales until he gets hurt to the body a couple of times in the last 30 secs but easy to give that round to Morales.
Some of the crowd shots through the fight are great like they can’t believe what they’re watching. It’s that kinda fight.
Barrera 104-105 Morales
Round 12
Clear Barrera thinks he’s behind as he comes out landing big shots, walking Morales down, and hurting him again. Morales with eyes closing ever the warrior then comes back with some good shots of his own.
With 45 seconds left Barrera hurts him again and as they come together Morales is off balance and goes down without a proper punch landing. He was definitely hurt in the build up but there wasn’t really a punch landing at the time he goes down so it’s a tough one but should be scored. However it’s the only thing that separates them so perhaps it should be a draw. A great toe to toe exchange to finish.
Barrera 114-113 Morales
I remember thinking at the time it was one of the best fights I’d ever watched and re watching for the first time in years has absolutely backed that up. Two absolute warriors who gave everything that night.
Watched it without sound this time so no idea how the Comms had it but was free of their influence.
I’ve always had Barrera just winning but not solely because of the last round knock down. I’ve always had him ahead going into the last round or no worse than even, so it’s come out closer than I recall but given the knock down should have officially been scored I find it hard to have Morales any better than a draw.
Round 9 is the round I could potentially call even rather than Barrera which would make it a draw, but can’t see a way Morales wins despite how tight it is. 115-112 with a knock down is a bad card, but there’s no more than a point in it for me either way so it’s not quite the robbery I once thought it was.
