QUESTIONS ABOUT BARERRA LINGER
San Francisco, CA- It worked for his opponent Manny Pacquiao. After losing to Erik Morales in their first of three encounters in March 2005, Pacquiao cited gloves, underestimation, promotional issues, too many people watching him train, a small hotel room, removing blood, and people coming in and out of his room. Although the long list may look ridiculous to many (each are factual true), Pacquiao did win the next two fights after getting rid of his promoter, wearing his gloves, getting a larger hotel room, restricting access to the Wild Card Gym, and taking Morales seriously.
MARCO SAYS DISTRACTIONS CAUSED LOSS
In Marco Antonio Barrera?s defeat to Pacquiao almost four years ago, he cited leaving training camp early, controversy surrounding the metal plate in his head, and disputes with his management and former promotions as reasons why he took a one sided beating at the hands of Pacquiao. In 2003, Barrera was the featherweight king that commanded the big dollars and the accolades that Pacquiao holds today. Therefore, going into this bout, Barrera fans can look at history in the hopes that their fighter can pull off the upset.
COMPARING THE PAIR?S ?DISTRACTIONS?
While the old timers argue there are no excuses in boxing, it is interesting to examine and compare both Barrera and Pacquiao?s ?distraction based? loses. In Pacquiao?s ?distracting? loss to Morales, he hurt Morales on more than one occasion and almost dropped him in the 12th round (all of that with a cut eye mid way through the bout). Pacquiao lost 115-113 on all three scorecards with a one-point swing in Pacquiao?s favor resulting in a draw. In Barrera?s ?distraction? lost to Pacquiao, he was thoroughly dominated from the first minute to the last minute in the 11th round. He was dropped two times and attempted to convince the referee to disqualify Pacquiao for head butts.
CAN?T DISCOUNT LOSS TO MARQUEZ
Barrera is coming into this fight after losing a decision to Juan Manuel Marquez. Barrera had a lot of success early in the bout, but the wear and tear of those legs betrayed him as Marquez (who hasn?t fought anywhere near as many wars Barrera fought) took over late to win a clear decision. Seemingly, Barrera has erased that fight from his memory based mostly on his no call knockdown of Marquez and point deduction for hitting him while he was down. It?s clear that against lesser competition, Barrera, like many experienced boxers like Bernard Hopkins, can win a decision based on experience alone. When it came to the big fights against opposition with equal talent, Barrera can hold his own until the bout goes to the late rounds, usually trying to steal round with late flurries.
IS MARCO FORGETTING ABOUT JUNIOR JONES?
Sometimes certain fighters have other fighters? number in the ring. It?s hard to conjure up Oscar De La Hoya ever beating Shane Mosley and likewise Shane Mosley every beating Vernon Forrest or Winky Wright. Barrera?s first two losses came at the hand of the tall right hand throwing Junior Jones, a fighter who will never be regarded in the same class as the man he beat. Junior Jones clearly won the first fight by decision and was in the process of stopping Barrera in the second fight until Barrera?s manager stepped in to the ring illegally, resulting in a DQ loss for Barrera. At the time, Barrera was never going to beat Junior Jones because Jones? long right hands were the perfect foil to the left hooking body puncher Barrera. The same was said after Barrera?s lost to Pacquiao. His style was perfect for Manny?s lightning quick straight left. Styles makes fights and Pacquiao?s style beats Barrera?s more times than not.
X-FACTOR IS FOCUS, CONDITIONING & HEART
For Barrera to pull off the huge upset, he needs to hope Pacquiao is not physically or mentally ready for war. With all the intangibles even between Pacquiao and Barrera, Manny should make quick work of the aging Barrera. However, age will not slow down the heart and determination Barrera will have to avenge his defeat. Although Pacquiao did stop Barrera in 2003, he will face in 2007, a highly motivated and determined Barrera (comparable to Marco?s bouts against Erik Morales and Naseem Hamed). Unlike Morales, Barrera is comfortable at 130 lbs. and therefore more physically prepared for Pacquiao than Morales was. If Pacquiao is not ready to take Barrera?s heat, then it could be a long night for the ?Pacman.?
THIS MATCH HAS GLOBAL IMPACT
As Frances ?The Fight Chick? Martel accurately pointed out, Pacquiao?s rise as a heroic icon in the Philippines has been at the expense of fighters past their prime, like Barrera and Morales. However, what she fails to point out that prior to those bouts, Pacquiao fought tough competition at 112 and 122 lbs. Pacquiao has had his fair share of grueling battles against opponents like Nedal Hussien and Agapito Sanchez, WBC flyweight (112) title against Chatchai Sasakul, after being way behind in points. His title winning effort against Lehlo Ledwaba, who was considered the top boxer in that division, cannot go unnoticed. There is also his bout against Juan Manuel Marquez in 2003 where he dropped him three times (no other fighter has come close to that kind of success against Marquez).
ONLY 28 MANNY CAN STILL CLEAN HOUSE
With that said, Barrera is still ranked #3 at 130 in the Ring magazine and if it was Joan Guzman, Edwin Valero, or Humberto Soto fighting Barrera, the criticism that Barrera would be punched into retirement would be non existent. At it now stands, Pacquiao and Barrera or in the future Marquez draws more interest and money than fights against ?better competition? in Valero, Guzman, or Soto. Once those fights have come and passed, then Pacquiao, if he chooses to, can focus his attention on young, hungry up and comers.
