A REMATCH between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Mexican champion Marco Antonio Barrera will definitely happen because both fighters want the fight.
No date has been set but World Boxing Council (WBC) president Jose Sulaiman told reporters in an interview at his WBC office in Mexico City that the eagerly awaited confrontation “will take place.”
“Let me tell you, Mexicans want Pacquiao. They don’t want anyone else in the world. And the Philippines wants Barrera,” said Sulaiman according to Boxingscene.
The WBC top honcho said Pacquiao’s promotional woes derailed the proposed mandatory Barrera defense of his super featherweight title against Pacquiao following the Filipino’s victory over Erik Morales last November.
“This is a puzzle (the promotion issue) that not even money has been able to resolve, so we took the only step that could be taken. We authorized Barrera to make a voluntary defense of his world title, and Pacquiao to make a voluntary defense of his International title,” Sulaiman said.
“Once those fights have been held, and hopefully the court will have a ruling about the law suit between Golden Boy and Top Rank in three or four months then the WBC will proceed with a purse offer,” Sulaiman added.
Barrera is slated to defend his WBC title against fellow Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on March 17 while Pacquiao will defend his WBC International belt against South Korean In Jin Chi on April 28 in Macau, China.
Barrera, stopped by Pacquiao in 11 rounds of their non-title clash in 2003 in Texas, is expected to have his hands full against Marquez, while Pacquiao is heavily favored over Chi.
Marquez is the same fellow Pacquiao knocked down three times in the first round before escaping with a draw in his defense of the WBA and IBF super featherweight titles against the Filipino in 2004.
Sulaiman described Pacquiao as “a rhino, who can knock down a ten-foot wall with his punches and determination” but added that “Marco is a highly intelligent, courageous and good boxer. So it’s going to be a very, very, very good fight.”
