Marco Antonio Barrera, a fierce competitor whose nickname of ‘The Baby Faced Assassin’ defined his fighting style, confirmed that he will attend the third Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony, Saturday, August 8, at Caesars Palace. He will be among the other notable boxers who have confirmed their attendance, including Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Felix Trinidad, Roger Mayweather and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.
Remaining tickets for the induction ceremony are $300, $175 and $75 and are fully tax deductible as the NVBHOF is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity. They can be purchased online at the Hall’s website, nvbhof.com.
“I am very, very happy because I will be the second Mexican boxer going into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame,” Barrera said. “It is an honor to be inducted just after Julio Cesar Chavez. I lived the Chavez Era and it is an honor to be a part of this, especially because I didn’t expect it. This is very meaningful for me and I will really have something to show off to my kids.”
Though Barrera is best known for his stirring trilogy with Erik Morales, all of which were fought in Las Vegas, he met most of the major stars of the day. He turned professional at the tender age of 15 and fought for 22 years, compiling a 67-7 record with 44 knockouts.
He scored notable victories over Morales, Prince Naseem Hamed, Johnny Tapia, Paulie Ayala, Kennedy McKinney and Rocky Juarez. He also was in the ring with Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and Amir Khan, among many others.
Barrera was a slick boxer who could work behind the jab and use the ring, but he had the heart and competitiveness of a slugger. So, as often as not, he’d meet his opponent in the middle of the ring and trade.
His three bouts with Morales, on Feb. 19, 2000 at Mandalay Bay; on June 22, 2002 at the MGM Grand; and Nov. 27, 2004, at the MGM Grand, were all contenders for Fight of the Year. The Boxing Writers Association of America voted Barrera-Morales III as its Fight of the Year.
Barrera’s victory over McKinney, a one-time star on the U.S. Olympic team, christened HBO’s popular “Boxing After Dark” series.
