This Saturday, October 6th, boxing fans are treated to a double header of quality fights. Unfortunately they will not be aired on the same network, as HBO and Showtime have chosen to, once again, counter program each other. The bout of the night with the most intrigue, both in the United States and overseas in the Philippines, is the rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao won the first fight, but that was four years ago and legitimately great fighters like Barrera deserve and usually do well in revenge matches. Pacquiao, one of the best and most popular boxers in the world, is looking to add to his own legacy of greatness with another dominating win.
For those not willing to shell out the pay per view money to watch boxing on Saturday, turn the channel over to Showtime, who will be showing a heavyweight fight that will have major implications in the future of the heavyweight division. Important heavyweight fights are hard to come by these days. Samuel Peter is scheduled to face Jameel McCline for the WBC Interim belt. The winner will have to face either Oleg Maskaev or Vitali Klitschko. The determination of which former Soviet big man that the winner will face is dependant on if and when either recovers from their injuries and if and when the WBC ever gets their act together. Regardless of who the next opponent turns out to be, Peter is expected to beat the lot of them and become one of the few respectable heavyweights of his era.
Read on to see who the team of writers at RSR are picking to win.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera II
Roger T. Tubajiki
I think Manny Pacquiao has what it takes to win this one by an eighth round TKO.
?Bad? Brad Berkwitt
Pacman by 9th round TKO.
Mike Plunkett
This is a match that’s three years too late from a standpoint of MAB having a decent chance at revenge. Pacquiao is at or just slightly beyond his peak and riding a wave of confidence. It would take a peak Barrera, and maybe even then some, to beat today’s variant of Pacquiao. I see MAB being sent to the showers very early, perhaps before round 3.
Chris Thompson
Despite all the distractions he has coming into the fight and the fact that I think Barrera will be as focused as he’s ever been, I can’t make myself pick against Pacquiao. I do however expect this fight to be much closer than their first encounter with Barrera getting some good work done. This may be his last time to step into the ring and I wish him luck, but I’m picking Manny by TKO after six.
Richard Hulse
It’s possible that Barrera has one great fight left in him, but I’m inclined to think that’s not the case. I’m sure he’d like to level the score with Pacquiao, but Manny looks to be stronger and faster. Probably Barrera will put up a better fight this time, because his preparations won’t be distracted, but I’ll still go for Manny to get a win.
Geno McGahee
I think that Manny Pacquiao is going to have a field day in this bout. Marco Antonio Barrera was beaten very badly in their first fight and he has been on the decline ever since. Manny Pacquiao has improved since then and has all the momentum in the world. I have a feeling that Barrera isn’t coming to win. I think that this is going to be a game of survival from bell one but his inability to block a straight left hand will be his downfall. I’m going to go out on a limb here and pick an early KO victory for Pacman. Pacman KO 2 over Barrera.
Antonio Santiago
Easy for me. If I say Pacquiao will win, Barrera wins. If I say Barrera will win, Pacquiao wins. My streak right now is 0 for 5 in my last five predictions and I am thinking of visiting The Vatican, Jerusalem, Africa, Mumbai, Bangkok or anywhere in the world where the leading religions are based just to see if someone can take off that snafu streak. But before that, here is another chance I can redeem myself without having to pay large amounts of travel costs so I will say that I like Pacquiao again because he seems stronger and less fight worn, probably by decision.
Neil Cartwright
Manny Pacquiao TKO 9.
Peter ?The Emperor? Stitt
I do not honestly know why Marco Antonio wants this fight after the drubbing he got when the two first met. Given how he has struggled since and clearly isn?t the force he once was whilst Pacquiao has just got stronger, I simply cannot see this being any different than the first result, maybe easier for Manny. I really like Barrera but I think he should hang them up.
George Diaz Smith
Manny Pacquiao knows he needs a hook to facilitate a more effective outcome, although his very unorthodox footwork does wonders off his speed fighting in angles. Why should he insist on adding another arsenal to his offensive package? It may be that he wants to appease the other sector that still doesn?t regard him to be the P4P King. Mentally Manny isn?t unready in any fight, and those who?re making ready-made excuses aren?t in the Manny Pacquiao camps that are making those type assumptions.
In a way this sort of reminds me of the May fight when Gerry Cooney dismantled Ken Norton in answering questions about him being capable of punching an elite fighter. Okay, so maybe that?s a disparity in punching, but perhaps you don?t like the way Pacquiao pulls back with his head up for that split second giving you the impression he?s vulnerable to hit. The Achilles heel tells you that Manny would have problems with technical fighters, and yet I shutter to think how he?d fair against fighters like Alexis Arguello, or the late Salvador Sanchez, a fighter who became a ghost circling around you with a ?Now you see it?now you don?t? kind of peppering when he was always within your reaches and sight.
Looping a right hook is very different than throwing it to the body or chin, particularly when a stiffened left jab keeps you out from getting under it. Everybody knows MAB is as crafty a left hooker there ever was one. I smell an upset. And the cardinal sin here isn?t to commemorate the left-hook to the liver from a guy who has done so countless of times to others, but backing him against the wall to cry uncle? Nah. Pacquiao?s success going there you would think is his lead left hand from afar inviting a skirmish. It is redundant to argue about how much better Pacquiao has gotten, not with a stone cold Baby-Faced Assassin believing he?s going to put the hurt on that contention.
Marco Antonio is so up for this fight that it?s scary. I wouldn?t necessarily discount a distance fight; but that probability is remote with the kinds of relentless aggression we?re about to bear witness to. I?ll take one reinvigorated Barrera inside a bloody sixth round TKO, and don?t hold the tequila.
Dan ?Tex? Cohen
Pacquiao-Barrera is not the fight that I want to see. It’s not that I don’t respect Barrera. It’s just that memory of Pacman demolishing Morales with ease, the fact that the public needs to see Pacman-Marquez before anymore time passes or flashbacks from 2003 when Pacquiao beat Barrera the first time around. The real question is how long this fight goes. Listed here are the two men’s respective Tyson Index scores.
Pacman 48.5 Barrera 60.75
I’ll be a stat head in this one. Figure that the fight will end roughly halfway through. The odds say Pacquiao and the math suggests six rounds.
Greg Rowe
This fight is going to be exciting for 6 rounds or so but Manny was way too much for a younger Barrera and he will be too much for an older Barrera. This fight will be interesting the first half but Pacman will start beating on Barrera and his speed/power combo will prove to be too much. Pacquiao by stoppage in the mid to late rounds.
Dan Hernandez
I have no problem picking Barrera over the Pacman if he could find and catch him, otherwise Manny & Peter should win their respective fights?too much firepower in both cases. I just hope the Pacquiao is focused because even tired, Barrera is a force to be respected. Peter backing into the championship leaves him with a lot to prove. Both fights should be decided by knockouts within 9 rounds.
Brian Wilbur
I like George?s bold prediction. He is the only one going with Barrera, going against everyone, including me. Barrera will definitely be competitive, but his old bones cannot keep up with a young pug with endurance and firepower like Pacquiao. Pacquiao will win by TKO in the 12th.
Samuel Peter vs. Jameel McCline
Roger T. Tubajiki
I pick Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter to win by UD.
Chris Thompson
Jameel ?Big Time? Mcline has fallen short whenever he has stepped up to the big time, and I don’t see how this one will be any different. Sam Peter by KO in a fight that’s not very close.
Neil Cartwright
Peter by unanimous decision.
Greg Rowe
Sam peter is a much improved fighter from the one dimensional fighter that fought Klitschko. And while McCline is a guy that can pull an upset or two, it won?t happen in this fight. Peter can box and Peter can punch. Expect both and expect Peter to stop McCline sometime between round 6 and 8.
Antonio Santiago
Peter should knock out McCline within five rounds.
George Diaz Smith
I?m hoping Peter kayos McCline early enough that Showtime will get to show Jose Rivera versus Daniel Santos in its completion, and I?m not just saying that as a colleague because I?ve taken to pick out the musical walkway arrangements set for him to enter into the ring this night.
Back to Samuel Peter and Jameel McCline. Peter has been placed on the grind fighting everything thrown at him, and in ways carried more than his share of crosses on his back. In a stranger kind of way that trait was an exemplified manner that Jackie Robinson broke the color line barrier for baseball. I think Sam will stop him before five full rounds are complete in the books. And I have Jose Rivera in an explosive fight pulling out in front winning a 12-round majority decision too.
Peter ?The Emperor? Stitt
At heavyweight, the only thing that will defeat Sam Peter in his fight with Jameel McCline is frustration over alphabet issues and people ducking him, but I just cannot see it. Peter is ranked No. 2 by boxrec whilst McCline comes in at No. 42, just one place above Audley Harrison and readers will remember the high regard, I have for Harrison! Peter belongs with the Klitschkos?McCline just doesn?t belong and I am sensing a hideous mismatch.
Dan ?Tex? Cohen
The Sam Peter/Jameel McCline fight is more or less a no brainer. McCline has not won an important fight since beating Shannon Briggs. In the big fights to follow, he was knocked out by Wladimir Klitschko, dropped decisions to Chris Byrd, Calvin Brock and Zuri Lawrence before twisting his ankle against Russian Giant Nikolay Valuev. While McCline is durable, Peter is an up and comer with outstanding power in his physical prime. McCline has a good chin. It could go to decision but I’m calling a late stoppage. Peter by tenth round knockout.
Brian Wilbur
McCline will be more competitive against Peter than the original opponent, Maskaev, was going to be. Jameel is a big guy and he knows that this is probably his last chance. I see McCline putting forth a good effort and last the distance, but probably not enough to win. Peter by decision.
Geno McGahee
I think that I am the only man alive picking Jameel McCline to win. Now, keep in mind that my prediction average has been lower than Antonio Santiago?s as of late. I think that Peter?s victories over Toney are considered too highly. James Toney got old quick. McCline is big, durable, and will frustrate Peter. This isn?t going to be pretty people. Remember that McCline stood up to the best offensive machine in boxing: Wladimir Klitschko, for 10 rounds and crumpled to the canvas out of exhaustion, not from the punches. This will not be a blowout where ?Big Time? is launched out of the ring by one of the Peter bombs. I think that we will see a very well conditioned McCline bringing his A game to the ring and eke out an ugly decision, in the 115-113 range.
“Bad” Brad Berkwitt
Geno is the only man on the planet and after several attempts, he kept his lunch money I wanted to take with my pick that Sam Peter stops Bigtime in four rounds.
