Tuesday, October 09, 2007 Manny moving up in weight By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
AFTER their ferocious rematch in Las Vegas, Marco Antonio Barrera, the loser, is hanging up his gloves for good while Manny Pacquiao, the victor, will continue to box and is heading for new territory where a lot of heavy bombers like him await.
Such is the saga of the Pacquiao-Barrera ring rivalry, which ended Saturday with the Filipino fighter emphatically overpowering the Mexican warrior for the second time.
Back in 2003, Pacquiao also annihilated Barrera via an 11th round TKO victory in San Antonio, Texas.
"This is my last fight," the 33-year-old Barrera told a post-fight press conference, an announcement that elicited a rousing applause from those gathered around.
"Tonight, I say bye to this beautiful sport. I've fought with the best and I'm happy with the decision," Barrera added in ending an illustrious career that started in 1989 when he made his professional debut.
In probably his last moments with his fans, right after Pacquiao fashioned out a unanimous decision win, Barrera signed autographs for them, holding a pen in his left hand and his youngest daughter in his right arm.
Pacquiao praised one of Mexico's greatest warriors.
"He's a great champion," Pacquiao said. "I'm very honored to beat him."
During the post-fight conference, Pacquiao admitted he was hurt by Barrera in the fifth round of their 12-round super featherweight showdown.
"I never underestimated him and there are no hard feelings," said Pacquiao, who raised Barrera's hand to show his respect.
Now, after beating Barrera, Pacquiao is looking ahead for a possible rematch with another Mexican fighter, WBC champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao and Marquez have an unfinished business. The two fought to a draw in their first meeting also in Las Vegas back in 2004.
"The way Pacquiao has been going through Mexican fighters?" asked Oscar dela Hoya, who co-promoted the card with Bob Arum. "Well, we have one for him, with the initials J.M.M.,"
But Pacquiao and his American trainer Freddie Roach are reportedly planning of moving the Filipino boxer up to 135 pounds, or the lightweight division.
"We've been talking about it," said Roach, who revealed that Pacquiao gained 14 pounds between Friday's weigh-in and fight night. "I think he definitely can fight at 135. It's getting a little harder to get down to 130, and I think he's ready to step up."
The lightweight division, though, is full of big hitters like WBC king David Diaz or WBA ruler Juan Diaz. (With a report from AP)
