Beaten on a controversial split decision in February of 2000, Barrera hit back to inflict the first ever defeat on Morales, winning on points over 12 rounds.

The judges scored the bout 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 for Barrera, although the fight failed to deliver the brutal action of the first contest.

This time it was Morales who seemed to be on the wrong end of a harsh decisision.

The outcome may result in a third encounter.

"We'll see what the public says, we'll see what the critics say," said Barrera.

Morales out-boxed Barrera over the first half of the fight and seemed to have a sizable edge in points.

But Barrera began to dominate from the seventh round and completed his rally by dominating the final two rounds.

"I think I won. I took the initiative and I connected with more punches," said Barrera, who last year destroyed Britain's Naseem Hamed.

While Barrera dethroned Morales as WBC featherweight champion, he was not expected to accept the title.

That would leave it vacant for the WBC's two top-ranked contenders, Injin Chi and Juan Manuel Marquez, to meet for the crown.

Barrera said: "I don't know where I'll go now. I'm going to take a break and think about it."