After losing a wild slugfest to last-minute substitute Humberto Soto last year, Rocky Juarez's stock slipped a little and the featherweight with the tremendous left hook found himself fighting in untelevised bouts. The humbled young Olympian now finds himself fighting on HBO once again, against another tremendous left-hooker, the great Marco Antonio Barrera, Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Juarez, 25-1 (18), who won a controversial, Texas home-cooked decision against Morales-conqueror Zahir Raheem, hopes to repeat "El Terrible's" feat against Morales' fellow Mexican and arch-enemy Barrera. Best remembered for his one-punch starching of a washed up Guty Espadas Jr., (who Morales had previously stopped with one punch), Juarez is taking a giant step up in competition but claims that he is confident and that the dissapointment of Jesus Chavez pulling out due to an injury will play on Barrera's mind.

Barerra, 61-4 (42), has been on a roll since being stopped by Manny Pacquiao in 2003 in his first fight for Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. Barrera has fought mediocre but stiff competition in Mzonke Fana and Robbie Peden, but decisioned Morales in 2004 in what was considered the most decisive and clear-cut victory of their fierce trilogy. A win for Barrera could put him on the fast track for a rematch early next year with Pacquiao, who will fight Oscar Larios and a third match with Morales in September.

The 26-year-old Juarez's short height will be a disadvantage at 130, but his youth, power and perseverance will make him a dangerous wildcard against the 33-year-old veteran Barrera. The fight should turn out to be an exciting Mexican slufest in the classic sense, and if Juarez could find a way to floor the WBC champion the drama will increase. However, Barerra has an excellent chin and sound defensive skills, and the only way to stop him is to overwhelm him - which Juarez has the ability to do. Juarez is not going to win a boxing match against the superior-skilled "Baby Faced Assassin", and it isn't likely he will have the ringsmarts to compare with him either. Barrera's age coupled with Juarez's tenacity and power are the factors which make this bout intriguing.

So who will win? Three words: Barerra's left jab. Juarez will get hit with this weapon all night long, and despite a valiant effort and some well-placed bombs, Barrera will outbox the younger fighter on route to a landslide decision.

Prediction: Barrera by split decision