Oscar De La Hoya says Marco Antonio Barrera is saving the best for last as he prepares for his rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
The two modern-day greats will meet for the second time in Las Vegas on Saturday night, just under four years after a stunning first meeting.
Then Pacquiao was underdog, but produced a sensational display to blast Barrera to defeat in round 11.
Now the tables are turned, Pacquiao is hovering just behind Floyd Mayweather on the P4P lists while many fear Barrera is past his best.
But De La Hoya says the Mexican ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’ isn’t done yet, and can produce a glorious renaissance on Saturday night.
He revealed: “One thing that’s very exciting to me is that a few fights ago Marco Antonio told me: “I’m saving the best for last.” I truly believe him. He knows these are his last few fights.”
Barrera hasn’t had long-time trainer Rudy Perez preparing him for the Pacquiao rematch, but De La Hoya says if anything that could be a plus.
He said: “It’s not difficult at all when you’re such an experienced fighter like Barrera. The trainer knows you’re experienced. I believe he wanted to have that trainer motivate him some more and bring something fresh to the gameplan, and it actually works.
“If you like at my first three or four fights with Floyd Mayweather Sr, it refreshes your mind and motivates your soul. I believe it’s a big plus for Marco Antonio.”
Finally De La Hoya refutes the claims that Barrera is shot, a fighter past his prime and ready for another comprehensive defeat.
“We recently witnessed Barrera against Marquez which was a good fight and a close fight. You look at Pacquiao against Marquez, who was dropped three times and still got a draw. I think it tells you a lot about Barrera – every time he fights the best he elevates his game.
“Now he’s fighting the top dog – the guy who beat him several years ago and he will be in the best shape of his life. This is the same story that we were getting before he fought Prince Naseem Hamed, before he fought Erik Morales.
“He was the underdog, people were counting him out. But that’s what he thrives on.”
