Philippines, 19 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PACQUIAO TO BIGGER FIGHTS, BARRERA TO HALL OF FAME


PhilBoxing.com




It was a thrilling and exciting bout from the first round to the end of the 12th round. Both boxers, the champion Manny Pacquiao and the challenger Marco Antonio Barrera fighting for the WBC International Super Featherweight Title came out to fight and the paying public both inside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Event Center and those paying for HBO pay-per-view got their money?s worth. The fight is Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank Promotions joined syndicated ?Will To Win? bout held on October 6, 2007 and watched by 10,112 boxing fans at Mandalay Bay and by millions worldwide at the comfort of their homes.

Manny Pacquiao was the aggressor most of the rounds weaving his body sideways down left down right with the finest footwork you could imagine and going to the offensive soonest he find a hole in Barrera?s defense. Barrera contented on staying standing stiff just moving his body around like a pendulum following Manny wherever he moved and just counter punching most of the time. It?s only on the 7th round that Barrera showed some sign of body weaving for the first time kind of getting the cobweb out of his system.

The first round was characterized by Pacquiao unleashing a barrage of punches and Barrera held Manny twice. Second round saw Manny on the offensive but Barrera counter punching while Manny was on his head down. The 5th round was the most exciting with both warriors counter punching with gusto and the crowds on their feet cheering for any fighter to get a knockdown. On the sixth Manny gave away a big solid left upper cut to the air as Barrera was able to evade it. It was just sizing up for both of them taking a breather before Manny cornered Barrera with a combination of punches before the 6th round ended. After the sixth round, Pacquiao was ahead on the two judges? card 5-1 except on the other one who called it even.

The two have good exchanges of punches inside the last ten seconds of the 7th round. It was almost the same game up to the 11th round where I called it the round that Barrera feared most. It was in this round that Barrera got knockdown on their first fight almost four years ago on November 11, 2003 at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas. My gut was true to form as Pacquiao tried to repeat history and was on the offensive most of the time and Barrera counter punching to the delight of the crowd who were on their feet again after the nth time chanting and chanting on top of their voices urging for a knockdown. However, it could be an accident or a dirty tactic but Pacquiao was hit on the head after the referee called a break. It was the lull that Barrera could have wanted and the crowd in silence while Manny shook out the effect of the punch in the corner. It stopped Manny?s momentum, avoid a knockdown and Barrera only got a slap of a one point deduction. Not bad for a legendary boxer with a glorious career who wanted to go out and retire standing tall and still be remembered fighting one of the best loved pound for pound boxer of all time in Manny Pacquiao in a very exciting and later on confirmed as the last fight of his boxing illustrious career.

As expected after all the dust was cleared, Manny Pacquiao, the proud son of General Santos City, Philippines won by unanimous decision and defended his title over Marco Antonio Barrera, the Baby Faced Assassin from Juadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Judges Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge both scored it 118-109 for Pacquiao and Tom Schreck scored it 115-112 also for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao landed 256 punches out of 694 or with an average of 58 thrown per round while Barrera landed 120 punches out of 578 with an average of 48 thrown per round. Pacquiao connected 80 jabs out of 369 thrown and 176 power punches out of 325 thrown while Barrera connected only 39 jabs out of 338 thrown and 81 power punches out of 240 thrown.

Marco Antonio Barrera will retire after this fight leaving behind a magnanimous record of 63 wins (42 KO) with only 6 losses for a total of 69 fights and will surely be elected to the boxing Hall of Fame. Manny Pacquiao will still continue his dominance of Mexican boxers in particular with a record of 45 wins (35 KO) with only 3 losses. Manny?s last loss was with his first fight with Erik Morales also of Mexico at MGM Hotel & Casino on March 19, 2005 which he later avenged twice on January 21, 2006 and November 18, 2006 at Thomas & Mack Center also in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rod Mijares.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Alex Bray Set for WBA Continental Latin American Title Clash February 20 in Orlando
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Calls out Jai Opetaia
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • BREAKING NEWS: DAZN AND MATCHROOM BOXING SIGN NEW FIVE-YEAR DEAL
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • 75 climbers start trekking to Mt. Apo today
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Dainier Pero Locked In Ahead of WBA Continental USA Title Defense in Orlando
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • A Milestone Birthday: Celebrating Brico Santig's 50 Years of Dedication, and Triumph
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • PH bet Chezka Centeno finishes 2nd in Florida
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • ARNOLD BARBOZA JR. AND KENNETH SIMS JR. SET FOR HIGH-STAKES CLASH IN CAN’T-MISS MAIN EVENT ON DAZN
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • CALLUM SMITH VS DAVID MORRELL MEGA FIGHT SET FOR APRIL 18 IN LIVERPOOL AS PAT BROWN HEADLINES IN HIS HOMETOWN ON APRIL 3
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Youth High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • Rapid chessfest gets underway February 22
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 16 FEBRUARY 2026: Ajagba, Dzambekov, Ruiz Register Stoppage Wins in Zuffa Event
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Mexican government and WBC join forces to create mega-project “Boxing for Peace”
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • All eyes on GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • WBC Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios Locked in for Ryan Garcia Showdown February 21 at T-Mobile Arena
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Dana White mocks traditional boxing promoters: "No contest, it's like hitting babies"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • LEIGH WOOD OUTLINES PLAN OF ATTACK FOR SOLD OUT REMATCH AGAINST JOSH WARRINGTON
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Cain Velasquez released from a California State prison
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Patrick Rivera wins Pacman's Cue Club 10-Ball Tournament; pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Pryce Taylor Fighting again in Detroit this Sunday on Claressa Shields’ card
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES Gabriela Tellez Ready to Make a Statement This Friday in Orlando
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026
  • IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026
  • Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.