Barrera to visit Cebu

THE latest edition of “Pinoy Pride XVIII – World Champion vs. World Champion” boxing event on March 2 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino will have a famous ring legend as special guest.

Mexican boxing icon Marco Antonio Barrera will travel halfway across the world to support his boxer, World Boxing Organization (WBO) mini-flyweight titleholder Moises Fuentes, in his world title clash with WBO light flyweight king Donnie Nietes.

“Marco Antonio Barrera will be coming and it has been confirmed by Zanfer Promotions,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu. “Marco sent his passport already and his tentative date of arrival is Feb. 28. Our travel coordinator is working on his ticket.”

Barrera, who fought Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao twice, co-manages the 27-year-old Fuentes along with his brother Jorge Barrera Tapia.

Fuentes is moving up in weight to challenge Nietes.

Barrera, a three-division world champion, is known for his fights with Pacquiao and fellow Mexican superstars Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Nietes, 31-1-3 with 17 knockouts, is out to prove that he is one of the best in the lower weight divisions by winning his second world title defense. The 30-year-old ALA Gym standout won the WBO light flyweight belt with a unanimous decision win over Ramon Garcia in 2011. He defended it last year with a unanimous decision win also over Felipe Salguero.

Fuentes, on the other hand, is looking for his second division crown with a win over Nietes. He currently holds the WBO 105-pound title by beating Raul Garcia via split decision in 2011. Fuentes, 16-1 with eight knockouts, defended it twice against Julio Cesar Felix and Puerto Rican superstar Ivan Calderon.

The main supporting bouts of the blockbuster boxing show feature unbeaten young prospect Genesis Servania and former world title challenger Jimrex Jaca.

Servania is taking on one of the toughest opponents of his career in veteran former world title contender Angky Angkota, while Jaca is up against Thai ex-World Boxing Council International featherweight champion Rachamongkol Sor Pleonchit.