Monday, July 02, 2007 Pacquiao-Barera rematch is on
THE much-awaited rematch between Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao and Mexican warrior Marco Antonio Barrera finally materialized with the settlement of Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank over the promotional rights to Pacquiao.
Now, Barrera finally got his chance at redemption as the two well-known fighters meet again, this time in a 12-round super featherweight clash, on Oct. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
For Pacquiao and the rest of his team led by famed American trainer Freddie Roach, it's a wish granted as they have been desperately seeking another fight with the legendary Barrera.
Nearly four years ago, or in November of 2003 to be precise, Pacquiao and Barrera traded punches in what was to be the Filipino boxer's coming out party in San Antonio, Texas.
Pacquiao, then wearing his flaming red trunks, flashed before thousands of boxing fans at the Alamodome and millions more around the globe who were glued to their television sets his terrific handspeed and tremendous power as he dominated Barrera from start to finish in a featherweight encounter.
His 11th round TKO win over Barrera, highlighted by two knockdowns, catapulted Pacquiao to greater heights and raised his stock, stunning the world and bringing glory to his adoring countrymen.
After that, Pacquiao had a memorable trilogy with Erik Morales, winning two of them, faced Juan Manuel Marquez and fought several rated but unknown boxers like Oscar Larios and Jorge Solis.
In between those bouts, the southpaw Pacquiao had been aching to fight Barrera again, now nearing the twilight of his career but still considered by Roach a dangerous opponent.
Barrera had also wanted to fight Pacquiao again, saying if he is going to hang up his gloves he would like to trade punches with the Filipino warrior one more time before riding into the sunset.
It's very clear that the ghost of that humiliating defeat to Pacquiao is still haunting Barrera up to this time and he wants to avenge that loss by coming up with one more sensational fight from his end and crush Pacquiao.
During his fight with Pacquiao at the Alamodome, Barrera complained of several distractions leading up to the bout, and that he was not at the top of his game mentally.
Now, the two warriors will meet again and Barrera has to prove what he has been claiming all along--it was not the real Barrera who Pacquiao fought in Texas that night. (CRAM)
