THE desert heat in Las Vegas figures to be scorching hot Sunday when Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera touch gloves in a scheduled 12-rounder at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
While no official world title is at stake, Pacquiao and Barrera are easily two of the most accomplished junior lightweights (130 pounds) in the punch-for-pay business today. Pacquiao totes a record of 44-3-2 with 35 knockouts while Barrera parades a resume of 63-5 with 42 wins via the short route. Pacquiao has won titles in the flyweight (WBC) and jr. featherweight (IBF) divisions while Barrera?s trophy room counts tiaras from the featherweight (WBC) and jr. lightweight (WBC/IBF) classes.
Four years ago, in San Antonio, Texas, Pacquiao catapulted to fame when he defeated Barrera, a 3-to-1 favorite, in 11 rounds. Barrera was then the hottest featherweight (126 pounds) in the world, having gone undefeated since June 2000. Barrera blamed his disastrous showing to a slew of domestic problems which included fleeing his training camp in the midst of a huge forest fire in California and admitting that he underwent a surgical procedure in 1997 to remove malformed blood vessels in his head.
Barrera is now looking to avenge the most humiliating setback he had suffered in an otherwise sterling 18-year career. Tables have been turned though as the Mexican is coming in a huge underdog.
Barrera, 33, has slowed considerably since bowing to Pacquiao. His punching power has greatly diminished since he moved up to the 130-pound. The Mexican has not scored a knockout win since stopping an overmatched Mzonke Fona in April 2005. The cracks became evident when Barrera barely eked out a split decision win over Rocky Juarez in May 2006. In March, Barrera finally unraveled in a decision loss to Marquez.
In stark contrast, Pacquiao has been blitzing past foes with the tenacity of a tank running over a row of shanties. Since the initial run-in with Barrera, Pacquiao had won 6 of 8 fights, losing only a close and competitive decision to Erik Morales in 2005 and settling for a draw with Marquez a year before. Pacquiao had bamboozled Fahsan 3K Battery, Morales (twice), Hector Velasquez, and Jorge Solis. Only Oscar Larios was lucky to hear the final bell in a lopsided defeat to Pacquiao in July 2006.
Morales, who went the full 12-round distance in three meetings with Barrera, was shellacked in 10 rounds by Pacquiao in their rematch in Jan. 2006 and in just three frames in their rubber match 10 months later.
Pacquiao has evolved into a complete fighter. The Filipino southpaw now exhibits more power in his underrated right hand, has better lateral movement, and a more debilitating body attack. Pacquiao?s hands remain lightning-fast despite the move up in weight.
?Manny is a very teachable guy, and he?s still learning,? mused Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach.
The rematch has been blemished with controversies. Many were taken by surprise when Pacquiao left the United States to train exclusively in Cebu. Reports came out that Pacquiao was unhappy with his purse and pondered on pulling out of the fight. Roach joined the fray by accusing Barrera of wrapping his hands in an irregular manner to make for a harder fist. Roach labeled Barrera a dirty fighter and insinuated that the Mexican would be employing illegal tactics in the rematch.
Fortunately, when the bell rings, only Pacquiao and Barrera will be left in the squared circle to settle the score.
Barrera has trained like a monk in Guadalajara under local trainer Fermin Hernandez. Ruby Perez, who had trained Barrera in his entire career, was not in camp and will not be around in the rematch.
Pacquiao has logged over 130 rounds of sparring. Though still one pound over the 130-pound weight limit as of Saturday, the Filipino is expected to breeze the scale.
?I?m in 100 percent condition and Barrera is in 100 percent condition. So I?m going to try and give a good fight. I hope everyone will enjoy the fight. This is for all the Filipinos and everyone who loves boxing,? barked PacMan.
