CANASTOTA, NY – APRIL 29, 2024 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum, which is celebrating its 35th Anniversary in 2024, is pleased to announce that Hall of Famers “The Baby Faced Assassin” Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik “El Terrible” Morales, who engaged in a legendary trilogy, will reunite in Canastota during the 2024 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend set for June 6-9.
“With their three epic bouts, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales made boxing history that will never be forgotten,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “It will be a special time to have both Hall of Famers together in Canastota to celebrate the Hall of Fame’s 35th anniversary and their tremendous in-ring rivalry.”
A five-time Mexican national champion, Barrera won titles in three weight divisions (WBO super bantamweight, WBC featherweight and WBC / IBF super featherweight). “The Baby Faced Assassin” retired in 2011 with a record of 67-7 (44 KOs) that includes wins over Kennedy McKinney, Naseem Hamed, Johnny Tapia, Kevin Kelley and Paulie Ayala. In 2017, Barrera was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Morales was the first Mexican boxer to win world titles in four weight divisions (WBC/WBO super bantamweight, WBC featherweight, WBC/IBF super featherweight and WBC light welterweight). “El Terrible” retired in 2012 with a pro ledger of 52-9 (36 KOs) that includes wins over Junior Jones, Wayne McCullough, Paulie Ayala, Daniel Zaragoza and Manny Pacquiao. In 2018, Morales was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
The legendary Mexican champions boxed an incredible trilogy (2000, 2002, 2004) with Morales winning the first bout and Barrera winning the second and third. The first and third bouts were named “Fight of the Year.”
Among an impressive list of over 35 boxing greats from the United States and abroad scheduled to attend include returning Hall of Famers “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya, “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” Christy Martin, Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe, “The Spinks Jinx” Michael Spinks, Ann Wolfe, Julian “The Hawk” Jackson and special guests “Irish” Micky Ward, Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik, “The Towering Inferno” Sebastian Fundora, “Sweet Poison” Gabriela Fundora, “Merciless” Ray Mercer and Kenny Bayless.
The Class of 2024 to be honored includes boxers Ricky Hatton, Ivan Calderon, Diego Corrales (posthumous), Michael Moorer, Jane Couch, Ana Maria Torres, Luis Angel Firpo (posthumous), Theresa Kibby (posthumous), trainer Kenny Adams, manager Jackie Kallen, publicist Fred Sternburg, journalist Wallace Matthews and broadcaster Nick Charles (posthumous).
The Class of 2024 will be honored during the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend on June 6-9, 2024, in “Boxing’s Hometown.” Many events will take place in Canastota and nearby Turning Stone Resort Casino throughout the four-day celebration including ringside talks, fist casting, fight night, 5K race / fun run, boxing autograph card show, banquet, parade, and induction ceremony.
This year’s Hall of Fame Induction Weekend Friday Night Fights will be presented by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions in The Event Center at Turning Stone Resort Casino on Friday, June 7th. The card is headlined by a must-see main event battle between undefeated Oscar Collazo (9-0, 7 KOs) and Geraldo Zapata (14-1-1, 5 KOs) for the WBO Minimumweight Title. Collazo is co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster HERE.
