Monday, October 08, 2007 Pacquiao outpoints Barrera By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
MANNY Pacquiao was just too strong and too fast against Marco Antonio Barrera in scoring a unanimous decision win in their entertaining rematch Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao landed the more telling blows and rattled his opponent with blistering combinations all night as Barrera rode on his bicycle and fought just to survive the grueling 12-round encounter.
The Filipino boxer's power shots produced great effect, with Barrera suffering a nasty cut below his right eye in the 11th round. The Mexican also deducted a point in this round for hitting after the break.
It was Pacquiao's second victory over Barrera, whom he defeated via an 11th round TKO in November of 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.
"It was a good fight, and it was different from the first fight," Pacquiao said. "He's a good, smart boxer. I'm satisfied with the result. I knew he would have to box me this time around."
Not even an illegal 11th-round blow by Barrera could stop the lightning-quick Pacquiao, who earned his sixth straight victory.
Barrera lost a point for a headshot that discombobulated Pacquiao after the referee moved in to separate them in the 11th, but Pacquiao recovered in time to reach the final bell.
With the loss, Barrera, 33, said he will retire from boxing.
"I'm finished," Barrera said after the bout.
Pacquiao was responsible for the only TKO loss of the Mexican champion's career in their first meeting in late 2003, but Barrera refused to go down this time against one of the sport's knockout artists.
"I was sad because I lost the fight, but he never really hurt me," Barrera said. "I didn't even think he landed that many punches."
Both fighters raised their arms in celebration at the end, but Barrera's excitement seemed artificial.
Judge Tom Schreck scored it 115-112 for Pacquiao, while Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge both favored Pacquiao 118-109. The Associated Press also gave it to Pacquiao, 116-111.
The 28-year-old Pacquiao dominated the punch stats, landing 256 punches to Barrera's 120. Pacquiao also had more than twice as many power shots, hitting on 54 percent while Barrera had just 34 percent.
Pacquiao did his first real damage late in the second round with a flurry of combinations that forced Barrera to retreat and counterpunch.
Barrera got back on the offensive in the middle rounds, staggering Pacquiao several times during their crowd-pleasing exchanges, but Pacquiao usually was a half-second quicker.
Both Pacquiao and Barrera made $2 million as promoters Oscar De La Hoya and Bob Arum staged an entertaining card in their first joint effort since settling various legal disputes between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, including a lengthy wrangle over the right to promote Pacquiao. (With a report from AP)
