LAS VEGAS ? International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. has an interesting theory on what Marco Antonio Barrera must do to neutralize Manny Pacquiao?s advantage in speed and power during their ?Will To Win? rematch at the Mandalay Bay Events Center here this morning (Manila time).
While most experts agree that Barrera?s only chance hinges on surviving the 12-round route and stealing a decision, Donaire thinks the Mexican will crowd Pacquiao and force him to fight inside.
?Manny needs space and some distance to throw his punches,? says Donaire who arrived late for the weigh-in ceremonies Friday afternoon because his father Nonito Sr. refused to give him time off from training. ?If Barrera sticks close to him, Manny won?t get that space. He?ll have to back up and create distance ? which Barrera won?t allow.?
The conventional thinking is Barrera will stick and run, sway side to side and try to keep Pacquiao at bay with his left jab. The assumption is Barrera won?t engage Pacquiao because he can?t take his punches.
But Donaire says if Barrera fights from a distance, sooner or later Pacquiao will get to him because he?s too fast and too strong. So it?s a strategy that could backfire on the Mexican.
?Manny is deadliest when he?s got room to throw his punches, his hooks, crosses and straights from either hand,? continues Donaire. ?Barrera knows that. So if he?s smart, he?ll crowd Manny, stick as close to him as possible and not allow him to extend. Whether he can do that is a question mark because Manny?s too smart to be hemmed in. It should be quite a fight. I?m looking forward to it.?
Donaire says Barrera is a dangerous opponent for Pacquiao but the Filipino should be able to win convincingly. ?Manny?s got too much heart for Barrera,? he says.
Donaire says he would?ve wanted to face Mexican Jorge Arce in the first defense of the title he won from Vic Darchinyan on a devastating one-punch knockout.
?I called out to Arce but I guess, he decided to fight somebody else, Martin Castillo,? says Donaire. ?So it looks like I?ll be fighting on a triple championship card probably in Connecticut against the winner of the eliminator between Luis Maldonado and Sergio Espinosa.?
Donaire says the Dec. 1 card is still being assembled but Antonio Tarver and Vernon Forrest will likely headline the East Coast show.
?Right now, I weigh about 130 pounds,? admits Donaire. ?I know I?m way over the flyweight limit. But I?m the type who loses weight easily. I can go down to 112 when the time comes.?
Two reigning Filipino world titlists will be at ringside when Pacquiao faces Barrera. Donaire and WBO bantamweight king Gerry Pe?alosa are in town to cheer for Pacquiao. Pe?alosa arrived Tuesday night with wife Goody to also show support for his fighter Michael Farenas who?s battling Tijuana?s Arturo Valenzuela in the undercard.
Farenas, 23, was supposed to see action in a Hard Rock card here Thursday night but when Jundy Maraon and Glenn Gonzales were denied US visas, a spot opened up in the card for Pe?alosa?s prot?g?.
Maraon and Gonzales are the prized prospects in North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pi?ol?s stable. A failure to submit the proper documents led to the denial of their visa applications. Farenas and another Filipino, Vernie Torres, were picked to fill in the slots.
Torres, 33, will meet Manuel Sarabia of Los Mochis in a six-round superbantamweight bout. The General Santos City journeyman was once the Philippine superflyweight champion, turned pro in 1996, moved to the US three years later and has compiled a 27-10 record with 15 KOs.
Torres once enjoyed a streak of eight wins in the US and was a WBO Intercontinental superflyweight titleholder. But he has fallen into hard times, losing four in a row with his last win a technical decision over Salvador Casillas two years ago.
Farenas has not lost in his last 10 bouts. The Sorsogon southpaw turned pro in 2004 and has a 17-2 record, with 15 KOs. His two losses were decisions to Pacquiao sparmate Aaron Melgarejo and Jun Paderna.
In the four-round superbantamweight curtain-raiser, full-blooded Filipina Ana (Hurricane) Julaton takes on Hondi Hernandez of Los Angeles. Julaton, a former taekwondo and wushu practitioner, is making her pro debut. while Hernandez is out to improve on her record of 5-1, with three KOs.
