JUST days after he announced that he is now willing to fight WBC super-featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao is set to lose that multimillion dollar opportunity as a Barrera-Juan Manuel Marquez showdown is reportedly close to being consummated.
Golden Boy Promotions Chief Executive Officer Richard Shaefer, in an interview with Boxingscene, has informed that contrary to Pacquiao’s claim that he will fight Barrera in April, a fight between Barrera and Marquez is already set on March 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“It’s not finalized yet but close,” Schaefer was quoted as saying.
In an interview with this writer recently in Florida, Schaefer had hoped that Pacquiao would make up his mind and be man enough to honor his previous signed contract with GBP. Schaefer pointed out the example set by Filipino Jimrex Jaca, who flew to the US to honor an earlier commitment to fight Marquez, in the process making for himself more money and allowing his own stock to rise dramatically with an impressive showing.
However, as things are shaping up, it seems a potential Pacquiao-Barrera rematch will not happen anytime soon, or even not at all.
“My hope is that Manny comes to realize who his true friends are and would use past experience as a measuring stick of friendship,” said Schaefer. “Who helped him out in his last mess and who has helped him to become the fighter he is today?”
Schaefer also explained that it would not be fair for Barrera and Marquez to “simply sit around and wait” as Pacquiao tries to make a decision on his next career move.
A Barrera-Marquez showdown will surely put back Pacquiao’s career, as there seems to be no other marketable foe available for Pacquiao on the horizon.
A potential duel with WBA champ Edwin Valero was doused this week when Akihiko Honda, who promotes Valero, stated that his ward is not yet ready for Pacquiao in 2007.
