Morales, from his part, was undefeated and he had won the WBC super bantamweight title, knocking out Daniel Zaragoza (being the first person to do so) in eleven rounds in 1997.

Promoters soon began arrangements for a bout between the WBC and WBO super bantamweight title holders.

He won his title by defeating Richie Wenton by 4th round TKO on October 31, 1998 and had made 2 defenses prior to this.

The first round began with Barrera throwing combinations, leading with his trademark left hook to the body.

Morales's lanky, tall frame providing a perfect target against which to test Marco's attack.

Barrera is fierce, while Morales stands his ground, throwing back punishing combos, using his killer right hand to punctuate them.

Barrera won rounds one and two clearly, since Morales is still struggling to match his opponent's level of intensity.

However, when "El Terrible" reacts, he comes back even fiercer, throwing three punch combinations to the head, taking a step to the side, and doing it again.

There's a sense that Barrera's experience is carrying him through, while Morales is still trying to adapt to being on such a big stage with such a highly skilled enemy in the ring.

Barrera hurts Morales with a flush right hand, who steps back against the ropes, and then fights Marco off.

Toward the middle of the round, it's Morales who takes the initiative, landing all sorts of hooks and uppercuts on Barrera, making him step back.

Marco throws a hook to the body, steps around Morales, and sends him back against the ropes after landing a monstrous right hand flush on Erik's face.

In round seven, we again see Barrera's masterful left hook to the body, which surprises Morales and makes him step back.

The rest of the round, Morales plays catch up, trying to pull ahead by overworking Barrera.

Barrera may still have stolen the round in the final seconds with his violent, commonly late rally.

Still, Barrera counterpunches, going strong against Morales's body, making him bend a little more noticeably in pain as he feels those hooks to the ribs.

In between rounds, we get a close up of Barrera's face, which shows a cut below the left eye, product of Morales's hard straight right hands.

As the commentators speak of the possibility, and probably the fairness, of the bout being scored a draw, Barrera and Morales trade vicious shots, as if trying to avoid the fight going the distance.

Morales holds on though, the ropes support him, and then he quickly steps to the side, trying to slip and duck while Marco is on the attack.

Then, the referee decides to stir up controversy, as he rules a knockdown on what was mostly a slip by Morales with half a minute to go.

This exceptional fight boosted both fighters careers and they won numerous world titles.