It’s Tijuana vs. Mexico City

Dean Juipe

Thursday, June 20, 2002 | 8:53 a.m.

Gauging the level of animosity that exists between Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales is a bit tricky.

Yes, they've fought once and they're fighting again, and, yes, they've traded insults and a couple of punches at a press conference late last year. But upon closer questioning the root of the featherweights' lingering problems may be as simple as the rivalry that supposedly exists between their hometowns, Mexico City and Tijuana, respectively.

"People from Mexico City have a superiority complex," Morales said Wednesday following a press conference designed to promote his Saturday fight with Barrera at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. "Without a doubt there's a rivalry between our cities ... and it's had an effect on us."

As such, Barrera and Morales may treat each other no differently than any two guys from Mexico City and Tijuana would treat each other. Accordingly, Barrera derogatorily referred to Morales as an "Indian" and the latter took offense and called Barrera a "faggot" before they exchanged blows last December in Houston.

"There's no peace here," Morales said of his relationship with Barrera, even though both men have been on their best behavior since reaching Las Vegas.

Those associated with the fighters and those who will fill the MGM's 14,700-seat arena are expecting fireworks, however, when the rematch gets underway at 8:15 p.m. and tops a pay-per-view card promoted by Top Rank and Forum Boxing. The local pay-per-view ban has been lifted, and the 5 p.m. fight card will also be available at several local sites via closed circuit.

Barrera, 28, is 54-3 with 39 knockouts and is a minus 155 betting favorite.

Morales, 25, is 41-0 with 31 KOs and is a plus 135 underdog.

They're scheduled for 12 rounds but with no title at stake, as Barrera has refused to pay the World Boxing Council sanctioning fee. Morales, the WBC champion at 126 pounds, is paying a sanctioning fee but will have to surrender his title in the event he loses.

"A number of years ago I would have been upset about that," promoter Bob Arum said. "But now I don't know if it makes any difference."

He added that Barrera's problem with the WBC can be traced to his manager, Ricardo Maldonado.

"Ricardo and (WBC president) Jose Sulaiman have been enemies for many years," Arum remarked. "Ricardo refuses to let Barrera fight for a WBC title."

Title or not, the winner will be recognized as the finest fighter at 126 pounds and will have the opportunity of facing unofficial 122-pound champion Paulie Ayala next.

"If Erik wins, there's no question he'll fight Ayala next," Arum said. "If Barrera wins, it's up to him."

Barrera's promoter, UNLV assistant football coach John Jackson, wouldn't speculate on an ensuing fight but said the option of facing Ayala "is certainly one we would have to consider."

Jackson is convinced his man will win, although he acknowledged that Barrera has some miles on him.

"That's true," he said. "When he was younger, Marco Antonio insisted on fighting as frequently as he could, and, to be honest, I tried to discourage him from that at times. But it turns out he was both right and wrong, because he gained a lot of experience and wisdom, even at the expense of being in a number of tough, grueling fights.

"Marco has always taken on all comers and he's given us some really exciting fights. I personally think he's better than ever and that he'll definitely win this one."

Arum, of course, is just as certain his man will prevail.

"I've never seen Morales look like this," he said. "Everything you've seen in the past is only a prelude to what we'll see Saturday. I'm confident Erik will win."

Morales won the first fight with Barrera, at 122 pounds, on Feb. 19, 2000, at Mandalay Bay. But it was a split decision that tested the judges and warranted this eventual rematch, one that will be worth $1 million to each of the contestants.

"What took him so long?" Morales mused. "He's not a man. His camp said he was 'robbed' in our first fight, but then it takes him two years to agree to get back in the ring."

Now that they're almost there, Morales said the outcome this time will be more definitive.

"In the first fight I didn't show myself as I wanted to," Morales said, and it was known that he had some trouble making weight for that one. "I'll be sharper this time and you'll see a lot of differences.

"No question about it, I'm ready to win this fight."

But so is Barrera, who said "I'm coming in at 100 percent and I'm here to win."

That fairly harmless statement was typical of the comments from the fighters and their handlers at the press conference per se, yet Morales is still carrying a grudge.

"They're beginning to show respect for me," he said, referring to Barrera's camp. "But they've bad mouthed me a lot before and always talked behind my back. I've never really been mad at Barrera, but why did he call me an Indian?"

Could it simply be a Mexico City vs. Tijuana thing?