Bob Arum is not looking at a knockout but a tight, long-lasting battle when Manny Paacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera lock horns on Oct. 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Arum, big boss of Top Rank, which is co-promoting the explosive rematch with Golden Boy, was coming off a well-deserved vacation when he spoke of the coming fight.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be a repeat performance,” said the 75-year-old matchmaker, referring to the 2003 showdown where Pacquiao knocked out Barrera in 11 rounds.
Barrera was the heavy favorite in that showdown in Texas, climbing the ring not knowing that Pacquiao, nothing more than a 24-year-old slugger then, was bound for international stardom.
“I’m not looking for a repeat of what happened a number of years ago, when Pacquiao first fought Barrera. I think it’s going to be a close competitive fight,” Arum told boxingtalk.com.
“Barrera’s the kind of fighter that just won’t give up when everybody counts him out, he gives an unbelievable performance,” added Arum, hinting of a possible upset that could stretch the rivalry into a trilogy.
From Mexico, WBC president Jose Sulaiman told philboxing.com that he expects Barrera “to run and try to outbox” Pacquiao in the rematch dubbed as “Will to Win.”
Barrera is in his fifth week of high-altitude, secluded training in Guadalajara while Pacquiao is just a few days behind working out with Freddie Roach in Cebu City.
It was the first time that Pacquiao, as he prepares for a big fight, has opted to train in the Philippines, away from the glitter of his Los Angeles headquarters.
“I’m concerned that Manny Pacquiao is not training in Los Angeles,” said Arum of his prized fighter who is scheduled to shift his training to LA the last two weeks before the fight.
“Yes, but one thing we have going for us is that Freddie is over there training with him. We get reports from Freddie every couple of days,” added the legendary Arum.
But regarding a close fight, Pacquiao might just prove him wrong.
