Barrera praises former foe Pacquiao

SOME believe that Manny Pacquiao’s boxing skills have dwindled following back-to-back losses in the ring, including a devastating knockout in the hands of long-time rival Juan Manuel Marquez.

But Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera thinks otherwise.

“I don’t believe that Manny’s going down, it just happened that Marquez landed a lucky punch,” Barrera said the other night.

Marquez knocked Pacquiao out cold in the sixth round of their fourth encounter last December in Las Vegas.

It was the other way around because with one more round, Manny would have stopped Marquez. It was Marquez who got lucky,” said Barrera.

Pacquiao broke the nose of Marquez in that round and the latter bled profusely. The Filipino superstar tried to finish him off but instead ran into a counter right that knocked him out.

Despite the devastating knockout, Barrera still believes that Pacquiao is the best in the sport.

“No. Marquez is not greater. Pacquiao won the first three, while Marquez only won
one,” he said.

Last year, Barrera thought about lacing his gloves once again but it didn’t pan out.

“Prior to Manny’s (fourth) fight with Marquez, I wanted to fight Marquez last year but it didn’t work out because of the promoter and because Marquez turned it down,” he said.

Barrera is still open for a ring comeback but against the right opponent – Marquez.

However, if he isn’t given that fight he is contented with what he has achieved in his
career, which spanned for over 21 years.

“I have won titles in three different weights. I have fought with the best, lost twice to Manny Pacquiao, fought two fights with Juan Manuel Marquez and fought three times with Erik Morales. I think I did my best in the sport.”