Marco Antonio Barrera

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Marco Antonio Barrera bigraphy, stories - Mexican boxer

Marco Antonio Barrera : biography

June 17, 1974 –

Marco Antonio Barrera (born January 17, 1974 in Mexico City) is a Mexican professional boxer. He has won numerous world titles in three different weight classes; he is a former two-time WBO super-bantamweight, Lineal/WBC/The Ring featherweight, and WBC/IBF super-featherweight champion.

Barrera ranks #43 on ESPN’s 50 Greatest Boxers Of All-Time.

Outside the ring

Barrera’s fights were promoted by Oscar de la Hoya under the organization of Golden Boy Promotions. He trained at De La Hoya’s training facility in Big Bear, California.

He is currently promoted by Ryan Jenkins.. Boxingscene.com (2008-08-31). Retrieved on 2013-01-17.

Since January 2009, Barrera has been a commentator for ESPN Deportes’ weekly boxing show "Golpe a Golpe" (Blow by Blow) which airs live on Friday nights on the network. Barrera’s co-host is SportsCenter anchor Jorge Eduardo Sanchez. Golpe a Golpe is the lead-in show to ESPN Deportes’ popular "Viernes de Combates" (Friday Night Fights) boxing series and is the first ESPN Deportes show dedicated solely to boxing.. HispanicBusiness.com (2009-01-14). Retrieved on 2013-01-17.

Amateur career

As an amateur, Barrera had a record of 104–4 and was a five-time Mexican national champion. Before losing his first amateur contest, Barrera had an undefeated record of 56–0.

Titles in boxing

Major World Titles:

  • WBO Super Bantamweight Champion (122 lbs)
  • (2) WBO Super Bantamweight Champion (122 lbs)
  • (3) WBO Super Bantamweight Champion (122 lbs)
  • WBC Featherweight Champion (126 lbs)
  • WBC Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs)
  • IBF Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs)

Minor World Titles:

  • IBO Featherweight Champion (126 lbs)

The Ring/Lineal Championship Titles:

  • Lineal Featherweight Champion (126 lbs)
  • The Ring Featherweight Champion (126 lbs)

Regional/International Titles:

  • Mexican Super Flyweight Champion (115 lbs)
  • NABF Super Flyweight Champion (115 lbs)
  • WBA Penta-Continental Super Bantamweight Champion (118 lbs)

Professional career

Super-flyweight

Barrera made his professional debut at 15 when he defeated Leonilo Embuestro Jr. of Philippines by a knockout in round two on November 22, 1989. The victory marked the beginning of a 43 fight win streak.

In 1990, Barrera had seven fights, including his first rise in quality opposition, when he defeated veteran Iván Salazar, by a decision in eight rounds. In 1991, he had seven more fights, defeating boxers Abel Hinojosa, Javier Díaz and others.

Barrera began 1992 by winning his first professional title, defeating Justino Suárez by a decision in twelve rounds to win the Mexican Super Flyweight Championship. He retained the title three times before the end of the year which helped improved his ranking in the Super Flyweight division. He defeated Abner Barajas by a decision in ten rounds, and Angel Rosario by a knockout in six rounds.

In 1993, Barrera had six bouts, winning each. He defeated Salazar in a rematch and retained his title against Noe Santillana and among others.

By 1994, Barrera was attending University to become a lawyer and also continued his boxing career. On April 13, he defeated future champion Carlos Salazar by a ten round decision in Argentina. He also defeated former world champion Eddie Cook before the end of the year.

Super-bantamweight

First world title

Barrera began 1995 by fighting for a world title. On March 31, he became the WBO super-bantamweight champion by defeating Puerto Rican boxer Daniel Cobrita Jiménez by a decision in twelve rounds at Anaheim, California. By this time, many boxing journalist were calling Barrera "Mexico’s next Julio César Chávez."