Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera's first fight ignited one of boxing best trilogies

Boxing often serves up rivalries that last, sometimes it splits a nation, occasionally it sees two world title holders put their belts on the line, but rarely does it do all that and at the same time produces one of the most exciting fights ever.

On February 19, 2000, Mexican legends Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera faced each other in the first chapter of a trilogy recognised as one of the sport's finest.

Morales and Barrera will always be remembered for their three fights and the animosity that existed between both men. But forget their last two fights, it was that opening encounter that set the bar for one of boxing's fiercest rivalries.

You can argue that Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier's trilogy meant more, that Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield were bigger box office stars and Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward matched their intensity, but the first fight between Morales and Barrera had something extra.

Morales came from Tijuana, a poor part of Mexico where you could party and drink beer as much as you wanted on holiday, but struggle to get a job and live above the bread line if it was your home.

Barrera was from Mexico City, the son of a lawyer in the comfortable surroundings of the country's capital. They grew up almost 1,000 miles apart and the class gap was just as great.

El Terrible had held the WBC world super-bantamweight belt for three years, becoming the first man to stop the long-standing supremo, Daniel Zaragoza, to take the title.

Barrera was in his second stint as the WBO holder, having lost twice to Junior Jones in back-to-back battles three years earlier.

The Baby-Faced Assassin was two inches shorter in height and reach. Morales was three years younger and was the rangier fighter, happy to pick off his opponents but - as we were to find out - was happy to get close and crack away in true Mexican fashion.

Morales was undefeated and the undoubted favourite but despite the recent successes, their differences and their dislike of each other, once the bell sounded at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, they couldn't have been closer.

To breakdown every moment of that dramatic first fight would take too long. 

As Sky Sports pundit Glenn McCrory, who was working ringside on that night says: "It was almost impossible to commentate, it was so fast, for the full 12 rounds. And you had your heart in your mouth. It was incredible."

Initially Barrera was the one walking forward, throwing those short, sharp hooks. Morales somehow took them on board and was happy to counter when he could. Then the script would change and Morales would pin his rival on the ropes.

That happened time and again. At times, the action flipped completely and Morales would be pouring forward, having Barrera in all sorts of trouble, yet before the round ended, the tables would be turned again. And again.

It was almost impossible to commentate, it was so fast, for the full 12 rounds. And you had your heart in your mouth. It was incredible.

And that all went off long before the iconic fifth round. The fight itself was named the Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year for 2000, but that fifth won the Round of the Year, and with good reason.

Morales was caught with a right, was penned on the ropes and then looked to be in trouble. But he then he hit back, pummelling Barrera repeatedly with his uppercut, his straight right and more than 20 unanswered punches, putting him on top. Barrera was in trouble but soon enough, so was Morales, as the Baby Faced Assassin bit down on his gum-shield and got his own back.

The crowd, who numbered a fraction of what fellow Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez regularly pulled in, were in a frenzy - all on their feet, engulfed in the sort of fight that was almost too good to be true. The fighters could not - and would not - stop punching each other.

It went on and on and on but by the final round, it seemed Barrera could well be ahead. The punch stats suggested that was the case, but the accuracy of Morales' shots might well have tipped the decision his way.

If the fifth round summed up the non-stop action, the 12th highlighted the unexpected and at times unbelievable nature of the fight. Barrera decided to box on the back foot, in Morales-style, and caught his opponent with a cracking left up-top that left Morales hanging onto the ropes as the Baby Faced Assassin went for the finish.

Then though, Barrera stepped aside, and Morales went down on a knee. People say it was a push, some people say it was a slip, but the gloves touched the canvas and referee Mitch Halpern called a knockdown and therefore a 10-8 round in Barrera's favour.

They had touched gloves at the start of the round, and did the same at the end, but both threw their arms in the air expecting to be confirmed the winner when the final bell sounded. Surely that knockdown has decided it.

The fight had turned into one of those rare encounters when you almost knew to expect the unexpected. Morales was the pre-fight favourire, Barrera had put him down in the final round and after battering each other all night long, no one would have argued if it was called a draw.

But it wasn't. Duane Ford gave it 114-113 to Barrera, Carol Castellano scored it the same in Morales' favour. Dalby Shirley surprised many with a 115-112 score and even more by favouring El Terrible.

People argued and still argue about that result. Even those who like to sit on the fence and stick to the draw, can never be totally confident. But no one would have minded.

Of course, the closeness of the decision and subsequent controversy meant a rematch was a certainty.

But that didn't really matter. Everyone who watched Mexico's two super-bantamweights box and brawl all night long immediately wanted to them them go at it again.

Morales moved up to featherweight straight away and the WBO ignored the judges' decision and let Barrera keep his title, but the boxing world knew they would meet again.

Ultimately, the rematch and subsequent third meeting couldn't reach the heights of that first encounter. Even Morales and Barrera couldn't dumbfound us again.

What do you recall from that fantastic first fight? Fill in the feedback below...