In what might be a sequel on its way to another legendary trilogy, and after a dramatic and controversial war that’s already been earmarked as “Fight of the Year,” Marquez-Barrera II is already on the table.
In the closing moments of the post-fight press conference, Golden Boy president Richard Schafer awarded the media, and those in attendance, with the news that HBO had penciled in Marquez-Barrera II for September 16—the week of Mexican Independence Day.
“We’re shooting for that date,” said Schafer. “We’ll have to talk to both camps first, but you heard the cheers. When the 12th round came, they weren’t cheering for Marco Antonio Barrera or Juan Manuel Marquez—they were cheering for Mexico.”
While both fighters had differing views on the fight—who’d won, the scoring and the controversial knockdown of round seven—neither Mexican warrior showed a reluctance to fighting a rematch.
“Marco Antonio Barrera is a great fighter,” said Marquez, his face swollen with the marks of a hard-fought battle.
“But if he wants a rematch, I can accept right away.”
“I will do what the fans want,” said Barrera. “But first, I want to take a vacation. Spend some time with my children and family.”
The former 130-pound kingpin had more to say about the scoring tonight.
“But what can I say? As a good sportsman, I am glad for Juan Manuel,” said Barrera. “He gave a great fight.
“But as a boxer, I can’t fight with the judges, the referee and my opponent at the same time. I know in my heart that I won tonight.”
All three judges—Doug Tucker, Patricia Morse-Jarman and Paul Smith—had it for Marquez, 118-109 (Tucker) and 116-111 twice. Round seven held all the controversy, however, after Marquez went down from a right hand and Referee Jay Nady ruled it a slip—but not before Barrera landed a big right hand while Marquez was on the canvas. Nady deducted Barrera a point. Marquez won 10-9 on all three scorecards that round.
“I was hurt that round,” admitted Barrera, “but I came back and knocked him down. The judges didn’t see, the referee didn’t see it, but you, I think, you all know what you saw.”
As for hitting Marquez when down, Barrera stated, “The ref should’ve been doing his job. I am a fighter. I see blood and I go after fallen prey. If the referee had done his job and held me back, it wouldn’t have happened.
“As for the decision? When the decision was announced, I would like to see a replay of Marquez’s face. They know it shouldn’t have been that wide.
“But the important thing is, it was a fight for the fans. That’s how I want to be remembered. As a great fighter who gave you great fights.”
Marquez was in agreement, that “it’s the people who won tonight,” but that’s where it ended.
“The judges did their job,” said Marquez, who’s been at the receiving end of what many consider bad decisions, in fights overseas against Chris John.
“I don’t feel it was given to me. They scored and they did it well. They can say whatever they want.”
Marquez said his constant pressure and cleaner, harder punches had him winning the fight.
“I was dominating the fight and that’s why I got the decision. I tried to knock him out but he took everything I threw at him.”
As for the knockdown?
Marquez said it was a slip.
“It surprised me,” said Marquez about getting hit while on the canvas. “He hit me hard . . . It’s not right. But I got up, I got up well, and I continued. I could’ve stayed down and looked for a win by disqualification. But I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to win the clean way.”
While he said he’d agree to a rematch, Marquez also said a rematch with Manny Pacquiao is also on the horizon for him.
Both Shafer and Bernard Hopkins, Golden Boy’s East Coast rep, said the fight would have “Barrera-Morales type” of pay-per-view numbers, although only 8,127 were in attendance at the Mandalay Bay.
A replay will be aired on HBO next Saturday night, March 24, before the live showing of the Kessler-Andrade fight.
Ponce: “Can’t always knock ‘em out . . .”
In the second of two co-mains, WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon defended against former super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa with scores of 119-109 twice and 120-108—numbers many at ringside thought were far from accurate.
“It was a much tougher fight that I expected,” the Chihuahuan champ admitted. “He was a smaller guy and we underestimated him and were very confident we would take care of him.
“It was a learning experience. I learned, you can’t always knock them out. It was good to go 12 rounds. It was a learning experience but I proved I can box, too.”
When asked about a rematch with the only man to defeat him, Celestino Caballero, bearer of the WBA version of the super bantams, De Leon sidestepped, saying “Not at this time,” but that if “built up, then yes. Eventually.”
In the meantime, De Leon will await his No. 1 contender after Rey Bautista and Sergio Medina duke it out in an elmination battle.
Hopkins Plan ‘A’ was ‘B’ grade
“Of course, I fell I won the fight,” said Steve Forbes of his USBA jr. welter fight against Demetrius Hopkins.
”I pressed the fight, I really made the fight, but I proved I don’t take no ‘gimmes.’ I’ll definitely be back to take on another contender.”
USBA titlist Hopkins gave himself a ‘B’ grade.
“It was a good fight but I stuck to Plan A and capitalized,” said Hopkins. “But I learn from mistakes. I fought a tough veteran, a former world champ and I needed that to step up the to the next level.”
