Sunday 21 February 2016 10:01, UK
Sixteen years ago on February 19, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera produced one of the best fights the modern era has ever seen.
They split Mexico, they hated each other and when it came to the super-bantamweight unification scrap it was explosive and ended in controversial fashion.
It still lives long in our memories, so we asked The Panel for their views on the bout...
It's not often you get a fight that puts other fighters on the edge of their seats but this first fight did just that. If you can shock fellow fighters and grab their attention, you're doing something right - this was one of those bouts. Look at the faces of the fighters at ringside at the Mandalay Bay, they were in awe. You admired the fight and would initially want to be in a fight like the first one between Morales and Barrera.
It was about machismo, it was about pride because it was a well-matched fight between two Mexican heroes. Similarly, Carl Frampton v Scott Quigg is well-matched and it could become a fight like Barrera-Morales because there's so much at stake. I think we'll see a rematch because it will have everything and more. Let's hope it is as good as that fight all those years ago.
Incredible! They had those three fights but they just held their form and the great fighters can hold their form when they're fatigued, they don't lose their shape or form in the 10th, 11th or 12th rounds. They both held it together in that one and they were both punching mighty punches, hitting each other.
They both had great chins, great guts and determination and if you really want to see boxing at the highest level, watch that first fight in particular. It was the wrong result - Morales got it but Barrera was better, but the second one was the opposite, Morales was better but Barrera got the result - but that first fight was the stand-out.
It's the greatest ever super-bantamweight fight - it had everything. It had quality, two young guys approaching their peak and the Mexican pride. There was genuine dislike although most of that was on Morales' side. It was a great match, they went at it non-stop from the first bell.
It was sheer excitement but I didn't agree with the decision. Like most people I thought Barrera did enough to win. It was special. Frampton-Quigg is similar because of the bragging rights.
The main thing that anyone first mentions is that fifth round. It was unbelievable and I can sit and watch it time and time again. I loved the way the action went to and fro, Morales looked like he'd had Barrera out on his feet, but he bit on his gumshield and came firing back. That round will go down in history as one of the best rounds ever.
The trilogy came and it is a bit like Gatti-Ward because we all thought the first one between Barrera and Morales would be good, but we had no idea it would be that good. The second and third ones are good and will go down in history but nothing compared to that first one between Barrera and Morales. We thought it might be good, but it was 10 times better than our expectations.
I was about 21 at the time and even after what I've been through, it will stand out. There was that rivalry from the start, but it was splitting Mexico in half and I am not sure if they knew who to cheer for. But the fight itself was the cherry on top of the cake.
Not only did it live up to expectations and not only did it have two fighters from the same country, with world titles on the line, but they pasted each other for round after round. Morales would have Barrera in trouble and hanging on, then from nowhere he'd come charging back and it would be Morales hanging on for dear life. It went on and on... and on.
It was just the quality that I remember. The pair of them looked like they'd been boxing since they were in the playground and they were so comfortable in there, even against someone as great as their opponent.
The three fights do merge into one but it was just the first time we saw how good Barrera and Morales were. I was a big fan of 'El Terrible' and didn't really like Barrera. That trilogy merged into one but the first one was the best.
Carl Frampton vs Scott Quigg, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office on February 27, is available to order via Sky remote and online
