Marco Antonio Barrera v Erik Morales III

Marco Antonio Barrera has claimed the WBC super-featherweight title with a majority points win over old adversary Erik Morales at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Barrera, 30, prevailed by scores of 115-113 and 115-114 on two of the judges’ scorecards while the third had it as a draw at 114-114.

The win puts Barrera 2-1 ahead in his magnificent trilogy with fellow Mexican legend Morales.

Many observers thought Morales was fortunate to shade their first meeting at super-bantamweight on a split decision in February 2000, Ring magazine’s fight of the year.

Barrera gained revenge at featherweight with a unanimous points win in June 2002 but again the verdict was deemed controversial as this time Morales may have been harshly done to.

Since that less ferocious encounter, Morales had won six out of six to claim the WBC and IBF super-featherweight titles and was defending the former belt here.

Barrera, meanwhile, had won three out of four, but they were against ageing opponents and he suffered a damaging 11th-round loss Manny Pacquiao 12 months ago.

That had prompted bookmakers to install Morales, 28, as a warm favourite, but Barrera turned back the clock with an outstanding display to take his record to 59 wins against just four defeats.