Barrera becomes 2nd Mexican in the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame

Marco Antonio Barrera, a Mexican boxer who fought for 22 years compiling a 67-7 record with 44 knockouts, became the second Mexican in the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame after Julio César Chávez.

The induction ceremony, attended by Barrera, took place yesterday at Caesars Palace.

“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 César Chávez. I lived the Chávez Era and it is an honor to be a part of this, especially because I didn’t expect it," said Morales, quoted on the website of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

Barrera, who turned professional at 15, scored notable victories over Erik Morales, Prince Naseem Hamed, Johnny Tapia, Paulie Ayala, Kennedy McKinney and Rocky Juárez. He also was in the ring with Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Márquez and Amir Khan, among many others.

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.

His win over McKinney, a one-time star on the U.S. Olympic team, christened HBO’s popular “Boxing After Dark” series.