International Boxing Hall Of Fame

Born January 17, 1974 in Mexico City, Mexico. A five-time Mexican national champion, Barrera posted a 56-4 amateur record before turning pro in 1989 at age 15 and won his first 43 bouts.

He won the NABF super flyweight title before capturing world championships in three weight divisions. In 1995 Barrera won the WBO super bantamweight title with a 12-round win over Daniel Jimenez and successfully defended it eight times including wins over Eddie Croft (TKO 7), Kennedy McKinney (TKO 12) and Jesse Benavides (KO 3). He lost the crown to Junior Jones in 1996 (DQ 5) but rebounded to capture the vacant WBO belt from Richie Wenton in 1998 (TKO 3). Barrera lost the crown to Erik Morales (L 12) in 2000 but remained champion as Morales refused the belt. He defended three times before vacating to go up to featherweight to defeat Naseem Hamed (W 12) in 2001. He defeated Morales (W 12) in a 2002 rematch for the WBC featherweight title, but refused the title. Wins over Johnny Tapia (W 12), Kevin Kelley (TKO 4) and Paulie Ayala (TKO 10) preceded the 2004 rubber match with Morales (W 12) for the WBC super featherweight belt. He added the IBF title in a unification bout with Robbie Peden (W 12) in 2005. Barrera lost the WBC title to
Juan Manuel Marquez (L12) in 2007.

The versatile boxer / puncher boxed sporadically before retiring in 2011 with a record of 67-7 (44 KOs). Barrera is now an analyst for TV Azteca.