BBC SPORT | TV & Radio | Grandstand | Woodhall's Barrera-Tapia preview



By Richie Woodhall BBC boxing commentator

Highlights of Saturday's fight will be shown on Sunday Grandstand at 1330 on BBC Two.

This fight is going to go the whole way - and that is because you have two Mexicans in the ring.

Barrera v Tapia: The tactical tussle

They are a very, very tough people, and these guys are like mini supermen - simply phenomenal fighters.

I once had the pleasure of stepping in the ring with a Mexican fighter, his name was Heath Todd.

I stopped him in eight rounds, but every time I hit him he just laughed and came back for more.

I think this could be one of the key fights of both men's careers

Mexicans are the toughest breed of fighter out there - everyone in the boxing world knows that when you step in the ring with a Mexican, you are in for one hell of a fight.

I like watching Barrera because he is an out-and-out boxing fighter - he is a clever puncher.

Ask most boxers and they will tell you they are a boxing fighter, but that is simply not true - it is for Barrera.

His fight with Prince Naseem was a master class in the art of counter-punching - he boxed Hamed out of contention.

But what I also like about him is that he is a brave fighter, and can slog it out with the best of them - he has all the skills you could ask for at this level.

As for Tapia, he has been a great champion, but his weight could let him down.

Johnny Tapia
Tapia is Barrera's senior by seven years

Most of his fights have been at flyweight, and he has grown, if you like, into a featherweight.

He is smaller than his opponent and has not got a lot of experience at this weight, and against a younger and fresher Barrera, that could count against him.

Age plays a part in this division.

As a heavyweight you can fight until you are 40, but how many 35-year-old featherweight champions can you see?

Prince Naseem is on his way down and he is only 27 - there is no way he will be challenging for a title like Tapia at 35.

I think this could be one of the key fights of both men's careers.

If you look around the division, you really cannot see any better fighters on the horizon.

Have your say: Who will win?

Barrera has proved himself against Erik Morales, and he convincingly dealt with Hamed, so this is a defining moment for both men, and the featherweight division.

Do not expect a knockout though. I think you could hit both of these fighters with a sledgehammer and they would keep coming back.

They both respect each other enormously but they will not want to lose to a fellow Mexican.

For most Mexican fighters, the honour of being the number one Mexican is higher than any world title.

But I think a youthful Barrera will beat his Mexican compatriot over 12 rounds.


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